why students dont like to learn science?

Answer 1

I think each of the previous answers had some good insights about that. This subject strikes me deeply because science is not only fascinating, but exquisitely useful to everyone.

Depending on the student, it can be misunderstood in the sense that it's believed to be too hard, or in the pathetic notion that it's unimportant to one's daily life. It floors me that those seeking answers of all kinds and an understanding of all manner of things often ignore science, which *provides* answers like nothing else humans have invented. That's what science is for.

SupergirlKK echoes my own feelings... that much of the problem is probably in the dry way it's taught in school. That, in turn, is probably because some teachers, themselves, don't quite appreciate its beauty. Others are just terribly ill-equipped to give students a sense of wonder, whether the teacher feels it or not. The periodic table of the elements, for example, is pretty boring to memorize... but the realization that everything known to humans--INCLUDING humans--is *made* of those roughly-hundred kinds of atoms adds a more interesting perspective a student can relate to. We need those kinds of correlations to *get* why it matters, and how wonderfully connected it is to *every aspect* of our lives, from health to relationships to recreation to safety.

But I think it's often true of *any* subject that for us to be interested we need to see how it applies to us. A good teacher makes all the difference.

How satisfying it would be if teachers could point out the *daily* usefulness of science, in everything from understanding how we can predict a storm to taking comfort in knowing why our heavy airline jet will stay in the air... from understanding how that digital camera works, so we can get better pictures, to getting how an mp3 file on our computer becomes music to dance to... and... to realize the dangers we create for ourselves: the spread of misinformation which keeps people in fear and ignorance, the killing of our ecosystem, nuclear proliferation... on and on. Science enlightens, and can protect us from ourselves.

How fulfilling it would be if teachers could make students realize that they don't have to go through life frequently confused, puzzled, frustrated and surprised by both the natural and technological aspects of their world, and could instead live in harmony with it all.

As for difficulty, is science really hard, compared to the facts and figures of a hundred battles in history, the rules of Calculus or algebra, the tenets of grammar (which a great many Y!A posters obviously haven't grasped), or another language? They're all a challenge in their own way, and to varying degrees with different students.

Sadly, science teachers too-often fit the stereotype of introvert in a lab coat to be able to relate to their students in a way that captures their imagination! That's where people like Jugglingmidget06 get the sad feeling that it's a "bunch of crap." (I agree with her on the "cheers to good science teachers" part!)

I also FULLY agree with garene, who suggests viewing Cosmos, a PBS mini-series from the 70s, which has been updated at least twice since then, and is available (with updates) on 7 DVDs. It is, in my opinion, the most comprehensive *and* fascinating condensation of human knowledge and our struggles to acquire it, in a single documentary. Carl Sagan was rare in his ability to show people the excitement and beauty of science, and the increasingly desperate need for it in our "demon haunted world"--as a "candle in the dark."

Very sadly, I believe another reason some people (not just students) don't like to learn science is that it conflicts with their beliefs, no matter how unsubstantiated those beliefs are... So many people hold on to absurd and dangerous ancient ideas (and some modern ones) -- witchcraft, astrology, psychics, gods of all kinds, and a hundred other unsubstantiated pseudoscientific piles of dung -- that science just gets in the way. There's no time, in their minds, to use its wonderfully-rigorous methods to divine the truth; better to stay in the dark, or in denial, clinging to one's ignorance, fears, superstitions and false hopes.

Yes, cheers to good science teachers everywhere!

Answer 2

i'm the student for this question! i attend a community college. my degree requires classes in science and i have put off taking them until next year. the reason you may ask? personally, i kind of like chemistry because i find all the chemical reactions intersting. BUT, i hate doing labs. and science is a bunch of knowledge i will never remember or use in life. the whole atam molecule stuff is just so crazy i have a hard time comprehending it. i mean, math, you know 1 plus 1 equals 2. english, a verb is an action that starts with "to" (to climb, etc). now, science, isn't simple at all, and if you really think about it, it is so hard to believe all that stuff about molecules so small and atoms that bond when you can't see them. i half think science is just a bunch of crap. my opinion only. the best way for any science-hating student to like to learn science is if the student gets a teacher that can change the student's perspective. So cheers to all the good science teachers out there! keep up the good work!!!

Answer 3

I think it has something to do with their brains. Say, I am looking at just two aspects of the brain, memory and processing.

Some people are very good at subjects with heavy weightage on memory, remember lots of dates, events, stories, history, etc.

Some people are very good at subjects with heavy weightage on processing, you remember a few formulae, but you need to process and apply them in the right context. Math & Science have heavy weightage on processing.

One of the ways to help such students is to move the starting point to their area of strength and then use that as an anchor to appreciate the weaker subject. It is a tough challenge as many such students, see no relevance in studying math. Further, they have to put in extra effort, much more than a student who is more math-science inclined.

Conversely, math-science students may find language subjects and Arts subjects not as challenging.

So the main point here is Motivation. If we can bring students to the point of motivation, then they will be compelled to learn on their own accord instead of being pushed to do so.

Moving to this point of motivation is the challenge and different students have different starting points, this further adds to the complexity of the problem. To be motivated, one has to see the relevance to meeting one's own goals in life.

Answer 4

Because it's usually presented in a very dry and boring way. Science could be extremely exciting, taught the right way. Not to mention the fact that it helps your brain development.

Answer 5

Because they have missed to learn the basic facts in kindergarten and in elementary shool, that are essential for understanding and acquiring scientifical facts, and in addition are too lazy to learn those facts now.

Disliking anything is the aftermath of not understanding it.

Answer 6

I love science .. well i kinda have to like it since im gonna be a doctor

Answer 7

have them watch cosmos, an astronomy pbs show from the 70's. you can pick up the dvd's

Answer 8

'cuz U gotta use your HEAD!