Cultivating curiosity in Science Education: Lessons from a Teacher’s Training Program – DIA Research

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Cultivating curiosity in Science Education: Lessons from a Teacher’s Training Program

Promoting curiosity-based science learning in schools in Fatehpur, UP

Education & Skills

Project Introduction

This study investigates whether curiosity-based learning effects are mediated through teachers, or can be imparted directly to students. It is a large-scale intervention aimed at fostering curiosity and scientific temper among upper primary students in Fatehpur district, Uttar Pradesh, covering over a hundred schools — composite and junior high schools with upper primary grades — across four central blocks. The curriculum, developed in collaboration with Agastya Foundation, emphasizes critical thinking and questioning skills, communication of doubts and ideas, and curiosity and perseverance in learning science.

Partners

(2) more partners

Researchers

(1) more researchers

Dr. Vinay Kumar Jha

Project Methodology

The intervention divides schools into three groups: in Treatment Arm 1, trainers conduct workshops for teachers, who then deliver the curiosity-based curriculum in their own classrooms; in Treatment Arm 2, trainers engage directly with students in classroom sessions without teacher involvement; and a control group of schools receives no intervention, for comparison. This design allows the study to isolate whether curiosity-based learning effects depend on teacher mediation or can be delivered as effectively through direct student engagement, with outcomes assessed across both treatment arms relative to control schools.

Impact

The project aims to generate insights on innovative methods of science learning and teacher training in government schools. Expected outcomes include evidence-based recommendations for scaling curiosity-based pedagogy in India, capacity building of teachers and trainers through structured workshops, and research publications that disseminate findings to a global audience of educators, researchers, and policymakers working on science education reform.

Documentation

This project is currently in progress, and will be updated with findings as results arise.

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