Science Process Skills Teaching in Digital Technology Era

Abstract

 In the modern era, where Generation Z and Generation Alpha learners are born and raised with digital technology, integrating these technologies into the teaching of science process skills is essential for creating a positive learning environment and developing both intellectual and manual skills. This article aims to present concrete approaches to applying digital technology to develop students’ scientific process skills. They are divided into eight basic skills. Science teachers should select skill teaching tools that focus on 1) expanding sensory perception, 2) grouping data according to criteria and providing immediate feedback, 3) increasing the accuracy of quantitative data measurement, 4) increasing the speed of complex calculations, 5) clearly showing spatial relationships, 6) creating diagrams, charts, and graphs from raw data, 7) providing immediate feedback on observations, and 8) showing data trends with feedback from predicting. For the six integrated skills, the science teachers should select skill teaching tools that emphasize on 1) creating thought-provoking questions about variables, hypotheses, and operational definitions, and presenting immediate feedback, 2) conducting virtual experiments on a website or smartphone; and 3) commenting on and discussing experimental results. The appropriate use of digital technology helps teachers design activities that develop science process skills, shifting from traditional skill-based learning  to skill-integrated learning experience that better aligns with the individuality of new generation learners.