Engage Part B Note 1: Use this activity to build a sense of community
for the class and to surface misconceptions. Compare survey results and discuss the
findings. Ask participants what they think can be done to educate the public about the
nature of science and why it is important to understand this concept.
Engage Part C Note 2: Concept maps are a valuable tool for surfacing
participants' current knowledge and identifying any misconceptions they might have. Here
is a sample map
for processes of science.
Explore Part B Note 3: Key points from this quotation are:
• Science creates possible hypotheses about nature and tests them
• Science is not a linear process; there's lots of playing with ideas involved
Note 4: Compare and discuss participant results from various high school
biology texts. Ask participants what they might do to augment their text's explanations
about scientific processes.
Explain Part B Note 5: It would be worthwhile to have teachers
discuss effective ways that they have found to help students understand scientific
terminology and process. For a good activity on teaching about the nature of science, read
Introducing Inquiry and the Nature of Science on the National Academy of
Science Web site.
This
activity demonstrates the tentative nature of science and scientific explanations. New
evidence is constantly collected and interpreted. Although the same evidence may support
different hypotheses, some evidence may more strongly support some hypotheses than others.
Scientists
can determine the best hypothesis by considering: Which hypothesis has the most and
strongest data supporting it? Which hypothesis has no conflicting evidence? Which
hypothesis has multiple lines of evidence supporting it? Do the alternative hypotheses
lack significant evidence? Which hypothesis meets the criteria of a "fair test"?
Elaborate Part D Note 8: Discuss how teachers use/teach science
process effectively in their own classrooms.
Evaluate Part B Note 9: Ask participants to share revised concept
maps. Together identify the most complete, accurate critical elements of science processes
on the concept maps.
