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What is Science? Ways of Knowing

What is Science? Ways of Knowing. Jennifer L. Maeng, Ph.D. What is Science?. Do Now: What is science? What is an observation? What is an inference?. What is Science?.

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What is Science? Ways of Knowing

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  1. What is Science?Ways of Knowing Jennifer L. Maeng, Ph.D.

  2. What is Science? • Do Now: • What is science? • What is an observation? • What is an inference?

  3. What is Science? To science, pilot of industry, conqueror of disease, multiplier of the harvest, explorer of the universe, revealer of nature’s laws, eternal guide to truth. (Inscribed on National Academy of Science Rotunda, Washington, DC)

  4. What is Science? “Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts.” “Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself.” Richard Feynman Physicist Nobel Prize Winner

  5. What is Science? “Science is an internally consistent set of lies designed to explain away the universe.” Art Beaucoup Paleobiologist

  6. Science as A Way of Knowing

  7. Science as A Way of Knowing

  8. Science as A Way of Knowing

  9. Science as A Way of Knowing

  10. Science as A Way of Knowing

  11. Stars in Mathematics (m-M)=5log(DISTANCE/10PARSEC)

  12. Stars in Science

  13. Stars in Religion 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? Psalm 8:3-4

  14. Stars in Art

  15. Developing Scientific Literacy • Requires a broad view of science. The Knowledge of Science Facts, Definitions, Concepts, Theories, Laws etc. The Practices of Science Observing, Measuring, Inferring, Predicting, Classifying, Hypothesizing, Experimenting, Concluding, etc. The Nature of Science Scientific knowledge is based upon evidence. Scientific knowledge can change over time. Creativity plays an important role in science. etc.

  16. Practices vs Nature of Science Observation- • Using your 5 senses to gather information about your surroundings Observe This!

  17. “Candle” Demonstration Nut Sliver String Cheese Candle Holder

  18. Practices vs Nature of Science Observation- • Using your 5 senses to gather information about your surroundings Inference- • A conclusion based on evidence • An “educated guess”

  19. Practices vs Nature of Science Observation- • What you “see” happening Inference- • What you “think” is happening

  20. What’s the Point? • Good way to practice making observations and inferences (scientific practices) • Reinforces concept that scientific knowledge is based on observations and inferences (nature of science)

  21. Mystery Cookies Wash your hands. You may “drill” with the toothpick, but may not break or dig into the cookie and may not poke the toothpick through the cookie Try not to change the appearance of the cookie. Be careful not to poke yourself with the cookie.

  22. “Field Geology” 201 Your geology class is on a field trip to a fossil bed in Alberta, Canada. While exploring the site, you discover a slab of rock covered with interesting impressions. Your instructor invites the class to make observations and inferences about the imprints…

  23. Field Geology

  24. Field Geology

  25. Field Geology

  26. Field Geology Nature of Science • Scientific knowledge is a combination of observation and inference. • Scientific knowledge is both tentative and reliable. • Scientific knowledge is empirical. Scientific Practices • Observation • Inference

  27. Observations Inferences

  28. Observations Inferences “Notice all the computations, theoretical scribblings, and lab equipment, Norm….Yes, curiosity killed these cats.”

  29. Effective Nature of Science Instruction • Is explicit • Is experienced by students in a meaningful context Linking nature of science instruction to scientific practices instruction is one way to achieve this (Bell, Blair, Crawford, & Lederman, 2003; Bell, Mulvey, & Maeng, 2012; Khishfe & Abd-El-Khalick, 2002; Lederman, 2007)

  30. Effective Science Instruction • Includes all 3 aspects of science: • Knowledge of Science • Practices of Science • Nature of Science • Beware of confusing Scientific Practices with Nature of Science! Observing/inferring ≠ Nature of Science

  31. Application • How does what we discussed today pertain to the labs you’ve done thus far? • In what ways have you used observation? Inference? • How could you incorporate these scientific practices in an activity you use in your instruction? • How could you integrate a discussion of “ways of knowing” into your instruction? What might be the benefits of such a discussion with middle/high school students?

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