w hat is s cience ? w ays of k nowing jennifer l. maeng, ph.d
TRANSCRIPT
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?
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)
WHAT IS SCIENCE?
“Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts.”
“Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself.”
Richard FeynmanPhysicist
Nobel Prize Winner
WHAT IS SCIENCE?
“Science is an internally consistent set of lies designed to explain away the universe.”
Art BeaucoupPaleobiologist
SCIENCE AS A WAY OF KNOWING
Mathematics Science Religion Art
Goal
Evidence
Appropriate Questions
SCIENCE AS A WAY OF KNOWING
Mathematics
Goal
Explore patterns & relationships
Evidence Logic
Proofs
Algorithms
Appropriate Questions
How do objects, ideas, and numbers relate?
SCIENCE AS A WAY OF KNOWING
Mathematics Science
Goal
Explore patterns & relationships
Investigate natural phenomena
Evidence Logic
Proofs
Algorithms
Inquiry
Obs./Inference
Experimentation...
Appropriate Questions
How do objects, ideas, and numbers relate?
-What happened?
-When?
-How?
SCIENCE AS A WAY OF KNOWING
Mathematics Science Religion
Goal
Explore patterns & relationships
Investigate natural phenomena
Truth
Spirituality
Evidence Logic
Proofs
Algorithms
Inquiry
Obs./Inference
Experimentation...
Revelation
Meditation
Scripture
Appropriate Questions
How do objects, ideas, and numbers relate?
-What happened?
-When?
-How?
-Why am I here?
-Why do bad things happen?
-Is this all there is?
SCIENCE AS A WAY OF KNOWING
Mathematics Science Religion Art
Goal
Explore patterns & relationships
Investigate natural phenomena
Truth
Spirituality
Convey perceptions of reality
Evidence Logic
Proofs
Algorithms
Inquiry
Obs./Inference
Experimentation...
Revelation
Meditation
Scripture
Creativity
Inspiration
Appropriate Questions
How do objects, ideas, and numbers relate?
-What happened?
-When?
-How?
-Why am I here?
-Why do bad things happen?
-Is this all there is?
-What is beauty?
-How can I express what I know and feel?
(m-M)=5log(DISTANCE/10PARSEC)
STARS IN MATHEMATICS
STARS IN SCIENCE
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
STARS IN RELIGION
STARS IN ART
DEVELOPING SCIENTIFIC LITERACY
Requires a broad view of science.
The Practices of ScienceObserving, Measuring, Inferring, Predicting,
Classifying, Hypothesizing, Experimenting, Concluding,
etc.
The Nature of ScienceScientific knowledge is based
upon evidence.Scientific knowledge can
change over time.Creativity plays an important
role in science.etc.
The Knowledge of ScienceFacts, Definitions, Concepts,
Theories, Lawsetc.
PRACTICES VS NATURE OF SCIENCE
Observation-Using your 5 senses to gather information about your surroundings
Observe This!
“CANDLE” DEMONSTRATION
Nut Sliver
String Cheese
Candle Holder
PRACTICES VS NATURE OF SCIENCE
Observation-Using your 5 senses to gather information about your surroundings
Inference-A conclusion based on evidenceAn “educated guess”
PRACTICES VS NATURE OF SCIENCE
Observation-What you “see” happening
Inference-What you “think” is happening
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)
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 cookieTry not to change the appearance of the cookie.Be careful not to poke yourself with the cookie.
“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…
FIELD GEOLOGYFIELD GEOLOGY
FIELD GEOLOGYFIELD GEOLOGY
FIELD GEOLOGYFIELD GEOLOGY
FIELD GEOLOGYFIELD GEOLOGY
Nature of ScienceScientific knowledge is a combination of observation and inference.Scientific knowledge is both tentative and reliable. Scientific knowledge is empirical.
Scientific PracticesoObservationoInference
“Notice all the computations, theoretical scribblings, and lab equipment, Norm….Yes, curiosity killed these cats.”
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)
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
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?