What is the Concept of General Science?

Concept of General Science

Before discussing about the concept of general science, it is first necessary to mention about the process of generalisation, which can be done through a simple example. If a person mixes some drops of lemon juice in milk then he will get cheese from it.

Then, every time, there will be need of cheese, this procedure can be repeated. Thus the fact that cheese can be obtained by pouring some lemon drops in the milk is a generalised fact as one learns it through direct experience while the process through which this fact is learn by that person is called generalisation.

Although general facts can be developed as a result of indirect experiences, however, in such case, chances of their having faulty or improper bases are more. It is for this reason that in science, only directly generalised facts are used. For this, processes of self-observations and experimentations are being used in science.

After understanding concept of generalisation, some light can be thrown on the concept of general science. As science is a very vast field or subject because of which it is generally taught under different headings or categories.

These headings or subjects are generally taught insulation from each other and generally there exist lack of co-relation among these subjects. But it has been realised by some experts that although these subjects are different in nature, but still they are parts of science, which is very wide in scope, because of which such subject should be designed in which all the branches of science can be taught collectively.

This collective form of various branches of science is generally known as General Science. This is also known as integrated science, as in this subject, various branches of science are found to be in integrated form.

It has been realised that through teaching of general science or integrated science, students can be informed about importance of general education, by which fundamental unity of science can be emphasised. Through this, students can learn the significance or role played by science in development of society or a nation. Through this subject, intermediate disciplines can be introduced before the students by which a lot of time can be saved.

It is important to mention here that only important points or concepts of various subjects should be taken in this integrated subject. In other words, detail description of various concepts should be avoided in course of integrated science, and this process should be performed by keeping in mind the age’, abilities and requirements of students. This subject can be used or imparted on primary levels as through this, teachers can develop scientific attitude among the students easily and properly.

Various measures or steps have been taken by government and non-governmental organisations to provide educational facilities to all the children belonging to different sections of the society. It has been realised that perspective of students can be developed in a rational manner only through teaching of science.

It is an important reason that why teaching of science is gaining prominence in educational institutions imparting education of various levels. This fact explains the fact that why number of science courses being included in primary or elementary level educational curriculum with considerable speed.

It is seen that generally environment is being used as important source of teaching in such kinds of programmes. In various integrated science courses, advanced technological developments are being incorporated, but still three traditional branches of science are given more importance in majority of the programmes. Here it is important to mention that three traditional branches of science are biology, physics and chemistry.

Various kinds of changes have taken place in courses of integrated science as a result of computer and information technology. However, in our nation, the level to which technology is being used in this subject is still limited as there is shortage of funds in our nation.

As said earlier that various experts are of the view that by including subject of general science in curriculum, educational level and mental-make up of students can be developed to considerable extent, and it is because of this reason that such programmes were designed in which general science possess important place.

For proper implementation of such program, various steps are being taken by Indian government, but still it has been realised that course had failed to achieve the fundamental objectives for which it was being introduced. It has been found by experts that subject of general science does not have proper form and structure, because of which it has failed to arouse scientific outlook among the students. In other words, programme of general science has failed to provide necessary or essential scientific base to young people as a result of which it is found to be unsuccessful in achieving set objectives.