Science Communication with Children

Communicating scientific concepts to K-12 students is an important aspect of technical communication. Science communication is the process of informing audiences of varying technical expertise about scientific concepts. Children, as students in science classrooms and as attendees of museums and other institutions, are often on the receiving end of scientific communication. This audience presents unique challenges and requires special considerations.

Classroom Communication
There are several strategies that have been used by teachers to communicate scientific concepts to students. The most frequently used method of communication in classrooms is lecture. In this method of teaching, an instructor addresses several students at once communicating information that they find important. With lecturing, students play a passive role, which may hinder learning. Demonstration is teaching through examples and experiments. This method of teaching can make subjects, specifically science, math, and art subjects, more engaging. Various formats and mediums can be used, and this method is fairly adaptable. One drawback of demonstration is that some learners’ needs may not be met, but this is a risk with almost any form of teaching. Another strategy for teaching is collaboration. Collaboration is when students actively participate in learning by working together. Examples include classroom discussions and group projects.

These methods can be used in conjunction with each other, and classroom activities may fall under multiple categories.

Informal Science Education
Museums, zoos, and science centers fall into a category known as Informal Science Education Institutions, or ISEIs. These institutions support science instruction. Research suggests that ISEIs support learning in ways that classroom instruction cannot. These environments tend to use demonstrative teaching more often than schools do, and in ways that schools cannot. ISEIs are able to communicate with students using hands-on activities, real-world examples, and tangible displays that schools typically do not have access to. These experiences solidify concepts taught in classrooms and get students engaged in learning.

Strategies
Research and teaching resources offer several suggestions to improve science communication directed at children. These suggestions mostly focus on keeping students interested and bringing complex, technical concepts to an appropriate level.

Maintain Interest
In order for students to learn, they must be listening and paying attention in the first place. Younger students struggle more with staying focused than most audiences. There is plenty of research and advice available to help instructors and communicators keep students interested in what is being taught. One method is to draw students in by beginning a lesson with a video, demonstration, or activity. Using multiple methods of communication ensures that multiple types of learners are addressed, and it prevents students from having to focus on one method of communication for a long period of time. Another suggestion is to think about using the senses. This strategy is better for children under 10, and it ensures that students experience a scientific topic in a variety of ways. When learning about birds in a biology lesson, students might listen to different bird calls, touch a feather to better understand how it works, and watch birds outside. Another way to engage students is to ask questions to make lectures and demonstrations more interactive.

Simplify Complex Subjects
A major focus of science communication, in general, is making technical concepts understandable for a wide audience. This is even more important when working with children, who might lack some of the basic science knowledge that the general adult population possesses. One way to do this is to use analogies. Compare scientific or technical subjects to everyday experiences that children can relate to. It is also important to avoid jargon. If jargon must be used, it must first be defined and explained. Additionally, focusing on broad topics helps students follow what is being taught. It is much easier to understand the basics of an entire field of study than it is to understand the details of a particular experiment.