Teaching the Nature of Science

Rajul Pandya

Agenda

• Why should we teach nature of science? (10 minutes)

• Examine popular conceptions about science (Small groups, 10 minutes to work, 10 minutes to discuss)

• Cubes of Science (5 minutes to do, 10 minutes to unravel and teach from)

• Discussion of other activities (10 minutes)

What is the Nature of Science

• Nature of science refers to how scientific knowledge is created and validated.

• It includes the practices of scientists, how new ideas are incorporated into the accepted body of knowledge, and what kinds of questions are appropriate for scientists to address.

Why does someone who is never going to do science need to learn about the nature of science?

Why does someone actually doing science need to learn about the nature of science?

Use think-pair-share answer the questions above.

Some popular ideas about science

• A theory, with enough evidence, becomes a law.• Scientists use ‘the scientific method’ to do their research.• Science is objective; the facts speak for themselves and

no one cares who you are or where you come from.• Science is objective, its answers are either right or

wrong, true or false. • Science is about focusing, hardwork, and lonely hours in

the lab.• Science isn’t creative.• Science proves things.

In Groups

• What is right about these statements?• What is problematic with these statements?• If you can remember, how did you become

aware these statements had problems?• How would you help students see the

problems?• Can you revise these statements to make

them better?

Cubes of Science

1. Without touching the cube in any way, please figure out what is on the bottom of the cube

2. When you are ready, we will hear from each group about a) what is on the cubeb) how you know

Reflection

– What do these cubes have to do with science?– What do these cubes say about the popular

conceptions you explored in your small group?

Activities to Teach NOS• Cubes of Science from

Avoiding Denatured Science: Activities that Promote Understanding the Nature of Science– Please don’t read this ahead of time – we’ll be trying the activity– I am not sure about the copyright for this article

• A old but great article from the journal of college science teaching – worth the dollar– What

Should Students Learn About the Nature of Science and How Should We Teach It? Applying the "If-And-Then-Therefore" Pattern to Develop Students' Theoretical Reasoning Abilities in Science

• Science as Story Telling to Teach the Nature of Science from the SERC website

• Understanding Science. A great website from UC Berkeley – aimed mostly below UG but still good.