• Question: How could you improve in science if you were bad at it?

    Asked by sadia12345 to Ivan, James, Jessica, Nicola, Sarah on 12 Nov 2013.
    • Photo: Jessica Liley

      Jessica Liley answered on 12 Nov 2013:

      Ask lots and lots of questions!

      There are loads of things in physics I should know but I think I’m pretty bad at, some of it is just so hard! But asking lots of questions to different teachers, scientists, and your classmates really helps to figure things out in your head. Then after a while you look back at the subject and wonder why you found it hard in the first place! 🙂

    • Photo: Sarah Tesh

      Sarah Tesh answered on 12 Nov 2013:

      Asking questions is definitely the way forward like Jessica has said!

      I also find it helpful to try different methods of learning – like finding diagrams that describe stuff rather than just lengthy paragraphs. Sometimes making bullet point notes from relevant textbook things help make it simpler and gets rid of all the wordy unnecessary bits.

      Finding the best way of learning for you is really unique to you as an individual – you may find you learn differently to other people – but it’s just a case of trying. Almost like an experiment in itself! Over the years I’ve tried many different ways of learning to get through areas I’ve found difficult and writing clearer points and diagrams really work for me. 🙂

    • Photo: Nicola Potts

      Nicola Potts answered on 12 Nov 2013:

      As Jessica and Sarah said ask questions.

      I also think that you need to find something that really interests you then begin to explore the science behind it. If you really love your mobile phone, or like stars, maybe even something like make-up. There is science behind all of these things.

      Also, understanding how the science you learn at school relates to real science is important I believe. Sometimes school can feel like you are learning a subject for an exam but there are parts of science at school that will stick with you and be useful for ever (even if it’s changing a plug!).

      Most importantly don’t say you are bad at science! Maybe you don’t get the same high marks as people in your class but that doesn’t mean you are bad! If you are interested and want to learn more about how things work, you are good at science!

    • Photo: James King

      James King answered on 14 Nov 2013:

      I would like to think that no one is really ‘bad’ at anything. It is just that they have not found the right way to learn that topic/skill yet.

      What I have found as the best way to learn something that you find challenging is to search out something you find interesting about that topic. Once you develop a curiosity for the topic you will find a new eagerness to learn more and more about it. And as we use science all the time in our lives it should be easy to find something that inspires you to learn more about it!

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