Community-Engaged Learning (CEL-SHU)

Science classes were first introduced for primary school education in China when the subject “Nature” was changed to “Science” as part of a curriculum reform in 2001. In February 2017, China’s Ministry of Education issued a new guideline for science education, requiring elementary schools to make science a compulsory subject for first-grade students. This move showed the authorities’ determination to improve children’s scientific literacy. Many scholars point out that studying science can help children grow curiosity and boost their abilities of innovation. Therefore, it is necessary to cultivate children’s interest in science and help them better understand the relationship between nature and mankind. However, rural students or children from poor families in China continue to experience the entrenched disadvantages in curriculum, instruction and school staffing, compared with their peers. Currently, there are still many problems due to the disregard of the “deputy subjects” and the lack of resources. How can we make fundamental science education more effective? How can we engage children’s interest in science subjects? How can we better use the scientific knowledge we learned to serve the community? This Deans' Service Scholars course will give NYU Shanghai students the platform to reflect on fundamental science education, participate in science curriculum design and find a way to better serve the community. The project will be conducted in two semesters. In the fall semester, Scholars will participate in weekly seminar/discussion sessions to prepare them with necessary skills for science curriculum design and effective teaching. Topics will include but are not limited to communication, teaching methodology, leadership, and child psychology and development. Scholars are also expected to do field research to identify some current obstacles and/or challenges in fundamental science education in China, and develop an after-school science series for primary school students to supplement their science education. In the spring semester, Scholars will implement what they have developed in the community service through an onsite teaching project. The teaching project will be partnered with our third-party community partner and the teaching audience will be primary school students from low-income families. No pre-reqs

This course is taught in conjunction with students’ participation in a weekly service experience working with migrant children and their families. The overarching goal of service learning is the integration of service activity that meets community needs with academic material and critical reflection.