Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) hosted a training course for science teachers of primary and middle schools during July 15-19, with 26 trainees from Yunnan and Guangxi. The course is designed as a class for science teachers to enhance their teaching abilities within the field of science and environmental education.

   Speaking on behalf of the organizing committee, Mr. Wang Ximin noted that this is the second time that such a training course has been organized in XTBG. He hoped the course can increase the teachers’ capacities and to further increase students’ nature awareness.

 The course included such topics as: ways of nature experience; increase students’ ability of observing nature by nature journaling; science popularization garden in campus; making of plant specimens and teaching nature science by using specimens; night sightseeing and design of nature experience course; propagation practice of common plants; experience sharing and science exploration, etc.

  The participants shared their own teaching experience and raised challenges faced with current teaching. They talked about how to attract children to approach nature, how to disseminate science knowledge, and how to withstand dangers, etc.

 An experienced science teacher named Duan Yupei from Beijing No.4 Middle School was invited as a keynote teacher at the course. He engaged with participants in a discussion on some of the challenges and dilemmas faced in science education. It focused primarily on providing participants with pedagogical skills for teaching and cases in nature.

  Prof. Chen Jin, director of XTBG, awarded certificates of completion to the participants. He said that the training course will be held year on year, so as to help more teachers to better introduce science concepts in a fun environment and increase environmental awareness. “Primary and middle school students are expected to be more intimate with nature and become a generation of science literacy”, added Chen Jin.

Prof. Chen Jin share his thoughts with the trainees.

Participants pose a group photo.

Prof.Chen Jin awards cerificates of completion to trainees.

Chen Jin and trainees pose a group photo.

Practice nature teaching in the field.