College of Education Critical thinking in Earth Science: Using the Model-Evidence Link Diagram Doug Lombardi

College of Education Overview  Quick introduction  Trying the activities  Plausibility ranking task  Alternative models & plausibility ratings  Model-evidence link (MEL) diagram & explanation tasks  The MEL project  Our website  Resources available

College of Education Scientific Knowledge  How do scientists evaluate and judge knowledge that they create (e.g., hypotheses, theories)?  How do scientists change their judgments?

College of Education Scientific Knowledge & Plausibility  “Scientific knowledge is a particular kind of knowledge…justified and critiqued on the basis of evidence and…validated by the larger scientific community.  …alternative interpretations of scientific evidence can occur…such interpretations must be carefully scrutinized, and…the plausibility of the supporting evidence must be considered.” (NRC, 2012, p. 251) What does “plausibility” mean?

College of Education Plausibility Ranking Task

College of Education  Why is falsifiability an important scientific principle?  What does falsifiability have to do with connections between evidence and scientific explanations (models, theories, hypothesis, etc.)?  What is the role of contradictory evidence in science? Evaluating scientific knowledge

College of Education Model Plausibility Causes of Current Climate change Model A: Humans are the cause of current climate change. Model B: Increasing amounts of energy from the sun are the cause of current climate change.

College of Education the Model-evidence Link Diagram Causes of current Climate Change

College of Education Evidence Text

College of Education Generating Explanations

College of Education The structure and mode of MEL diagrams were originally developed by researchers at Rutgers University under the NSF-supported PRACCIS (Promoting Reasoning and Conceptual Change in Science) project. Acknowledgements

College of Education  MELs are easily integrated into the curriculum  Use of MELs promotes critical evaluation of explanations and deeper knowledge of scientific phenomena Teaching Implications

College of Education Why is this Important? The three spheres of activity for scientists and engineers (NRC, 2012, p. 45)

College of Education  Designed to replace another activity that might be less effective  Takes 1-2 typical class periods  Important Note: The MEL is not expected to be complete curriculum on the topic! Using the MEL

College of Education  Critical Evaluation as a Scientific Habit of Mind: Instructional Scaffolds for Secondary Earth and Space Sciences  Partnering with teachers in Nevada & New Jersey  High school earth science students are participants Our Project This presentation is based upon work supported by the NSF under Grant No. DRL Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the NSF’s views.

College of Education MELS that we are developing Fracking & Earthquakes Moon Formation Wetlands & Water Resources Current Climate Change Earth & Space Science

College of Education The moon mel

College of Education Our Website

College of Education Our Website

College of Education Critical thinking in Earth Science: Using the Model-Evidence Link Diagram Doug Lombardi