Cultivating Curiosity in Science Education: Lessons from a Teacher Training Program

Curiosity and critical thinking are essential components of the learning process, enabling students to explore and evaluate information and ideas. By fostering curiosity and encouraging critical thinking, teachers can create a more engaging and effective learning environment that promotes deeper understanding and long-term retention of knowledge. To explore the role of curiosity and critical thinking in education, we have partnered with Chalees Minute Foundation to evaluate an innovative science teacher training program in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

This program is designed to promote curiosity-based learning and a discussion-based curriculum, giving teachers new tools to inspire curiosity and creative thinking in their students. We will assess the effectiveness of this program in enhancing students' human capital and identifying the pedagogical and psychological mechanisms that lead to improved learning outcomes. We aim to create a sustainable model for effective science education that can be scaled up across India and beyond.