Scifest Africa may appear to just be gimmicky and fun for young minds, but the overwhelming response from presenters and teachers is that the lights and sounds used to make science attractive are seriously benefiting children and they have learned a lot so far.
Scifest Africa may appear to just be gimmicky and fun for young minds, but the overwhelming response from presenters and teachers is that the lights and sounds used to make science attractive are seriously benefiting children and they have learned a lot so far.
As in the past, Scifest boasts an incredibly interactive programme this year, and many visitors to the national science fair have praised the hands-on experience and engagement that it offers school children. One teacher from Queenstown, Catherine Mills, said her school lacks the resources that Scifest provides and the experiences in the past week have given her pupils new and different platforms to learn on and different tools to learn with.
Another teacher, N G Ranelo from Noluthando Secondary School in Lady Frere, said it’s the hands-on workshops that really get the children excited and engaged, “not like in a show,” she said.
Ranelo noted that this has them asking questions, which is an important component when learning. Head of the Science department at Davidson School in Alice, Chris Kagoro has been attending Scifest for the past ten years, and he remarked that the experience changes pupils’ lives, and makes them more likely to remember what they learn while at the event.
“They learn new things. The activities are hands-on. And, they get to socialise with other students,” he told Grocott's Mail.
The pupils themselves also reported how much they have been learning. Grade 7 Kingswood College pupils Julia Hare, Erin Cripps and Kristen Burgess were very enthusiastic about the workshops they attended last Thursday. Julia even said that learning was what she prized at Scifest.
“Some of the students got to go to Turbulent Earth, which we are studying in school and we have a test on, so I was quite jealous,” she said. Although not all children are going to be quite so keen to enhance their education, as presenter Julie Dixon of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy said, “if out of 100 kids that come, only 10 benefit, it’s worth it.”
