Operation of the Club is based on an experiment – both on its content and the way of carrying out. Club members meet to explore the world around them by means of experiments.
There is no exploration without an explorer who DOES NOT KNOW, thus tries to learn more, explore. Explorers are scientists, people who in their professional lives are on the verge of two spheres: one of what we know and the second one of what is still awaiting to be explored. An explorer uses knowledge in order to pose adequate questions and acquire new information. In such work, curiosity and persistence are of key importance, which makes the attitude of scientists close to the attitude of... children! Nobody is as persistent in asking questions and looking for solutions as the youngest ones.
What is most important in the scientific method? How does it differ from other experiments with illustrating function which are often carried out during classes? In scientific research, the final result of the experiment is not known and can differ from the one initially assumed. Therefore, ability to observe and to draw conclusions is most important in this process. Little children get to know and learn the world in the same way (through observation, empirical experiments, repetitions and conclusions).
The way of carrying out experiments in the Club responds to this need to explore which children have. It is this natural willingness to explore the world that will drive meetings and experiments. After some time, children look for answers to their own questions thanks to their real influence on topics tackled during the meetings. The process of getting to the truth is absorbing, stimulating and interesting. It is accompanied by great joy of exploring which opens the mind for new knowledge and skills. This way of learning is exceptionally effective.
At the beginning, we offer a base of ready experiment ideas which serve as a starting point to conduct activities. When this method of YEC meetings takes roots, Club members will start to ask questions and try to look for answers to these questions on their own. During school lessons, the aim of experiments carried out is to illustrate a certain phenomenon (subject, problem). In Young Explorer’s Clubs we offer exploring experiments (which enable members to learn about new, unknown issues). Besides, experiments in the YEC method should meet a number of conditions which are presented below.
Features of an experiment in the YEC method: cheap, simple (adjusted to skills and age of the Club members), safe, possible to be carried out on one’s one, intriguing, stimulating to ask questions, with an open formula, that is giving the opportunity of modification and carrying out in many variants, its result stimulates further questions and is a starting point for next experiments.
Descriptions in the base do not contain explanation of experiment results. It is not a coincidence. It is all about motivating to independent searching for answers to asked questions and experimental looking for rules of the world. Only thorough observation, drawing conclusions, making new hypotheses and their verification can really teach independence as well as creative and critical thinking. In the world of experiments there are no mistakes but only further attempts which bring us closer to a discovery. Moreover, since we encourage to modify scenarios, results of experiment can be different each time.
Often reaction to such attitude is scepticism as to final results of work. Does a child learn anything in such conditions? How should I conduct activities, if I don’t know the answer? Participation in Club activities gives really a lot – both to children and to the supervisors. The process of carrying out an experiment and looking for answers to questions itself is important. Children learn to perform tasks on their own (they improve their agility, manual skills, art of listening, concentration, observation and drawing conclusions). Through observation they learn about rules which – even if they are not given a scientific name – are remembered for a long time. Such learning is very natural, actually intuitive, and the acquired practical knowledge will be supplemented during further stages of education with proper terms, chemical equations and formulas over time.
In the described process, the Club supervisor plays an extremely significant role. Significant and difficult. In experiments, a kind of freedom, space and time is necessary. Freedom should be visible also in the way of working – once prefer to work individually, while others will work more willingly in a group. The supervisors should assist the Club members, moderate mildly the course of activities. They do not judge, anticipate facts, prompt nor give additional information too soon. This requires great patience and restraining from the natural need of wrongly understood help in form of giving complete solutions. After some time, supervisors become proficient at this attitude and thus become one of Club members: they accept children’s subject suggestions or suggest experiments themselves which are a challenge for them.
Mastering the ability to carry out experiments, ask questions and draw conclusions is very important in a broader sense. It provides universal skills which are important in the social life. It form in Club members for example features which are particularly welcomed by employers: ability to work in a group, solve problems, use materials and time in an optimal way, freely use tools, accept and make use of information, as well as building self-esteem. Explorers approach challenges they have to face with courage and determination. This happens not only in school, but also in family and – later – professional life. Club members, used to independent searching for solutions, are active and creative. They perceive any slip not as a defeat but as a part of the path to their goals.