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Nature of Science BED 6416. Before we begin…. Think of a topic – any topic – in the discipline that you hope to teach and write it down on a blank sheet of paper. What is Science?. There are many different definitions How do you define science?
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Before we begin… • Think of a topic – any topic – in the discipline that you hope to teach and write it down on a blank sheet of paper.
What is Science? • There are many different definitions • How do you define science? • Turn your sheet of paper over and fold it in half • On the left side, make a list of 4 or 5 words that describe science. • Below that, still on the left side, make a list of 4 or 5 words that depict the important aspects of the specific science topic you chose • Think about the process of scientific exploration in that field
Science in Action • How does science happen in the real world? • Flip your paper over, and as you watch this clip of “Race for the Double Helix,” write down 5-10 words on the right side of your paper that describe the essence of the scenes you are watching. • Start at 36:30 End at 46:05
What is Science? • Unfold your paper and compare what you wrote on the two sides. • How do your two lists of terms compare? • How can you explain the differences?
What is Science? • “Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts.” • “If you thought that science was certain – well that is just an error on your part.” • Richard Feynman • “The grand aim of all science is to cover the greatest number of empirical facts by logical deduction from the smallest number of hypotheses or axioms.” • “The whole of science is nothing more than a refinement of everyday thinking.” • Albert Einstein
What is Science? • “The whole history of science has been the gradual realization that events do not happen in an arbitrary manner, but that they reflect a certain underlying order, which may or may not be divinely inspired.” • Steven Hawking • “In science, ‘fact’ can only mean ‘confirmed’ to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent.’ I suppose that apples might start to rise tomorrow, but the possibility does not merit equal time in physics classrooms.” • Stephen Jay Gould • “It is the tension between creativity and skepticism that has produced the stunning and unexpected findings of science.” • Carl Sagan
What is Science? • “The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discovery is not Eureka! but rather, ‘hmm…that’s funny…’.” • “Creationists make it sound as though a ‘theory’ is something you dreamt up after being drunk all night.” • Isaac Asimov • “In this house, we OBEY the laws of thermodynamics.” • Homer Simpson
What is Science? Creativity Skepticism Funny Theory Laws • Belief • Certain • Empirical • Everyday • Order • Confirmed
Misunderstanding Science • Do students understand what science is? • What aspects might challenge them? What alternative conceptions might they have? • We are students • Do teachers understand what science is? • What aspects might challenge them? What alternative conceptions might they have? • We are teachers
Myths of Science • http://coehp.uark.edu/pase/TheMythsOfScience.pdf
Integrating N.O.S. • Go back to the topic you wrote down at the beginning of this discussion • With a partner, brainstorm some ways that you could integrate the N.O.S. into a lesson for that topic