New Perspectives in Science Education
"To learn from nature" Teaching Biomimicry for Teacher Training Students in the Kaye Academic College of Education
Vered Yeflach-Wiskerman, Kaye Academic College of Education (Israel)
Abstract
Biomimicry is an approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies.
In this research, a unique educational program was developed for outstanding teachers training students (n=26), in order to to give the students a multidisciplinary insight into biomimicry studies with an emphasis on the theoretical knowledge and pedagogy methods. This program includes workshops, excursions, and lectures, organizing a community day, biomimcry day for 8th grade pupils, and building a learning path of biomimcry specialized in desert organisms in the garden of the college.
The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes, satisfaction and relevance of the unique curriculum to the students. The study also compares between the Jews and Beduim students and between students majoring in science and those majoring in non -oriented science subjects.
The students included a self-report questionnaire at the beginning and at the end of the course. The results of the study showed that the overall attitude and satisfaction toward the course was positive.
The students reported that the course contributions were mainly exposing them to new knowledge and to diverse learning pedagogies.
The study also examined the contribution of the course to the role of students as future teachers, their interest in the course, and what they believe is the contribution of biomimicry to pupils in school. The research shows there is a significant difference in the results between Jews and Beduins and between students majoring science and non -oriented science subjects . The results show that students majoring in science and Beduins students were more interested in the course. They think that the course is more important for their professional development and more important for pupils in school.
To conclude biomimcry is a rapidly growing field. It is important to introduce the concepts of biomimicry and the wisdom of nature to teacher training student, hopefully they will adopt this concept as teachers and introduce it to their pupils.
Key words: biomimicry, higher education, sustainability, project based learning and place.
