W HAT IS S CIENCE ? W AYS OF K NOWING Jennifer L. Maeng, Ph.D.

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?