evaluating claims to knowledge inquiry for citizenship — beyond laboratory inquiry
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Evaluating Claims to Knowledge Inquiry for Citizenship — beyond laboratory inquiry. Frank Jenkins, PhD, retired Secondary Science Education Centre for Mathematics Science and Technology Education ( CMASTE ) Centre for Research in Youth Science Teaching and Learning ( CRYSTAL Alberta ) - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Frank Jenkins, PhD, retiredSecondary Science Education
Centre for Mathematics Science and Technology Education (CMASTE)Centre for Research in Youth Science Teaching and Learning (
CRYSTAL Alberta)
University of AlbertaEdmonton, Canada
[Accompanying assignments]
[email protected], 2011-10-22 ATA SC Conf.
Carl Sagan on School ScienceCarl Sagan:“The whole idea of
democratic application of skepticism is that everyone should have the essential tools to effectively and constructively evaluate claims to knowledge.” Demon Haunted World, p. 76
“[These tools] are hardly ever mentioned in the schools, even in the presentation of science….” DHW, p. 77
Frank Jenkins:We have allowed pure science
knowledge to dominate other kinds of knowledge. This expresses our current (not past, and hopefully not future) valuing within curriculum & assessment.
[email protected], 2011-10-22 ATA SC Conf. 2
Creating & Testing My ClaimEducation and science primary research literatureDaily Edmonton Journal including Sunday ReaderNutrition Action Health Newsletter by Centre for
Science in Public Interest (CSPI) (a magazine)Climate Cover-up by James Hoggan (a book)Wingnuts by John Avlon (a book)The Best American Science Writing by Groopman
(book)What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell (a book)The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan (a book)All Life is Problem Solving by Karl Popper (a book)
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Contexts: Inquiry for CitizenshipSource of claimsnewspaper articlesmagazine articleslobbying literatureradio and TV news/adsprimary research
literature (peer-reviewed)
textbook and classroom language/talk (yours?)
Types of claimsmedical research
MS liberation treatmentalternative medicine
candling; aromatherapyenvironmental research
oil sands developmentclaims of the paranormal
water witchingeducation research
[email protected], 2011-10-22 ATA SC Conf. 9
Evaluating claims to knowledgehealth claims; e.g.,
drug efficacysurgery efficacydiet efficacyvitamin efficacyexercise effectivenessbrain-use effectivenesssleep effectssocial effectsattitude effects
alternative medicine; e.g.,
naturopathychiropracticaromatherapyacupunctureherbal therapymagnetic therapyorganic foodsfaith-healingpsychic surgery
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Evaluating claims to knowledgeenvironmental
claimsglobal warmingacid rainradioactivitymining & restorationflaringdrag-netting fishfish farmingpesticide use
paranormal claimsalien abductions; UFOsbig-foot; crop circlespsycho-kinetic powerschanneling;
mindreadingfairies; ghosts; visionsastrology; ESPhalo readings et al
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Evaluating claims to knowledgeeducational claims
curriculum emphases whole readinginquiry-based sci. ed.nature of science
benefitsclass sizemetacognitionconstructivismlaboratory workassessment techniques
paranormal claimsalien abductions;
UFOsbig-foot; crop circlespsycho-kinetic powerschanneling;
mindreadingfairies; ghosts; visionsastrology; ESPhalo readings et alpsycho-surgery
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Nutrition Action byCentre for Science in the Public InterestQuick StudiesMg and Sudden Death
88 000 women26 yearscorrelational study
Omega-3s Miss Markrandomly assigned4,800 subjects (60-80 a)1 of 4 margarines; 3.5 ano significant difference
Don’t Just Walk260 middle agedfour groups (1 control)9 monthsquotes other studies
Protein & Carbseight country study800 adults lost weightthen given either
protein or carbs
[email protected], 2011-10-22 ATA SC Conf. 15
Climate Cover-Up book (Hoggan)--evaluating claims to knowledge
relevant credentials?practicing researcher?legitimate peer-review?paid “expert” opinion?respected journal?source hyper-vigilance?national science
academy?evidence-based science?selected evidence?fact checking?
scientific attitudes?scientific integrity?big-money lobbying?ethical PR firm?against misinformation?petition vs. survey?problem of balance?economic interest?tolerance for
uncertainty?manipulated media?
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Evaluating health claims: Q’s1. funding agency?2. relevant credentials?3. legitimate peer-review?4. respected journal?5. anecdotal, correlational
or cause-&-effect study?
6. animal or clinical trial?7. double-blind study?8. placebo & placebo
effect?
9. evidence-based science?
10. population for sample?
11. random sample?12. sample size?
13. term of study?
14. replication needed?
15. (un)certainty expressed?
16. statistically significant?
17. in whose interest? ethics?
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Evaluating environmental claims—Q’s1. funding agency?2. relevant credentials?3. legitimate peer-review?4. respected journal?5. anecdotal, correlational
or cause-&-effect study?9. evidence-based science?10. population for sample?13. term of study?
14. replication needed?
15. (un)certainty expressed?
16. statistically significant?
17. in whose interest? ethics?
18. number of samples?
19. number of variables?
20. number of sample sites?
21. seasonal sampling?
21. up-down stream tests?
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Thank youHand-off to you:1.How do we create, test
& use inquiry-based (NoS) science education in the classroom & laboratory.
2.How do we create, test and use inquiry (NoS) tools for citizenship.
Consider the potential and persevere with your experience, knowledge and problem solving approach.
Acknowledgements:my fellow authors; school
and university colleagues my students; my familyothers who have written and
worked on this endeavourwww.CMASTE.ca under
Outreach and Science Educ.www.CRYSTALAlberta.ca
under Science Reasoning Text
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