DARWIN-INSPIRED LEARNING AND TEACHING

CDT held a Darwin-Inspired Learning Seminar in 2005 to investigate how Darwin’s life, work, and his environment could best be employed in science education to excite teachers and young people. Working with Dr Susan Johnson, Dr Carolyn Boulter has since developed a framework for education inspired by Darwin for CDT. Its principles underscore all CDT’s education programmes. All programmes will ultimately be designed for online availability on the Forum’s website.

Darwin-Inspired Teaching and Learning takes Darwin’s life, methods of working, ideas and the places where he worked as a source of inspiration. Authentic learning experiences can be based upon what is known about Darwin’s life and times. Darwin’s way of working engenders curiosity about the natural world wherever the learner is. Despite Darwin being located firmly for half his lifetime in the Downe countryside, his inspiration can transcend the locality and have a universal interest and impact.

The garden and countryside around Down House was Darwin’s laboratory. The area is ideal for exploring the natural world outside the classroom and promoting methods of investigation and analysis inspired by Darwin. Learning in the real world outside the classroom is as vital now as it was for Darwin. Almost all of Darwin’s investigations can be accessed remotely and repeated in the familiar surroundings of home and school. Virtual representation, though important, can never be a substitute for real investigation.

The first of the programmes is Science Enquiry @ The Charles Darwin Forum delivered in collaboration with Science Learning Centre London and Bromley Education.