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

W HAT IS S CIENCE ? Do Now: What is science? What is an observation? What is an inference?

W HAT IS S CIENCE ? 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)

W HAT IS S CIENCE ? “Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts.” “Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself.” Richard Feynman Physicist Nobel Prize Winner

W HAT IS S CIENCE ? “Science is an internally consistent set of lies designed to explain away the universe.” Art Beaucoup Paleobiologist

S CIENCE AS A W AY OF K NOWING MathematicsScienceReligionArt Goal Evidence Appropriate Questions

S CIENCE AS A W AY OF K NOWING Mathematics Goal Explore patterns & relationships Evidence Logic Proofs Algorithms Appropriate Questions How do objects, ideas, and numbers relate?

S CIENCE AS A W AY OF K NOWING MathematicsScience 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?

S CIENCE AS A W AY OF K NOWING MathematicsScienceReligion 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?

S CIENCE AS A W AY OF K NOWING MathematicsScienceReligionArt 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) S TARS IN M ATHEMATICS

S TARS IN S CIENCE

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 S TARS IN R ELIGION

S TARS IN A RT

D EVELOPING S CIENTIFIC L ITERACY Requires a broad view of science. The Practices of Science Observing, Measuring, Inferring, Predicting, Classifying, Hypothesizing, Experimenting, Concluding, etc. The Nature of Science Scientific knowledge is based upon evidence. Scientific knowledge can change over time. Creativity plays an important role in science. etc. The Knowledge of Science Facts, Definitions, Concepts, Theories, Laws etc.

P RACTICES VS N ATURE OF S CIENCE Observation- Using your 5 senses to gather information about your surroundings Observe This!

“C ANDLE ” D EMONSTRATION Nut Sliver String Cheese Candle Holder

P RACTICES VS N ATURE OF S CIENCE Observation- Using your 5 senses to gather information about your surroundings Inference- A conclusion based on evidence An “educated guess”

P RACTICES VS N ATURE OF S CIENCE Observation- What you “see” happening Inference- What you “think” is happening

W HAT ’ S THE P OINT ? Good way to practice making observations and inferences (scientific practices) Reinforces concept that scientific knowledge is based on observations and inferences (nature of science)

M YSTERY C OOKIES 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 cookie Try not to change the appearance of the cookie. Be careful not to poke yourself with the cookie.

“F IELD G EOLOGY ” 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…

F IELD G EOLOGY

Nature of Science Scientific knowledge is a combination of observation and inference. Scientific knowledge is both tentative and reliable. Scientific knowledge is empirical. Scientific Practices o Observation o Inference

“Notice all the computations, theoretical scribblings, and lab equipment, Norm….Yes, curiosity killed these cats.”

E FFECTIVE N ATURE OF S CIENCE I NSTRUCTION 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)

E FFECTIVE S CIENCE I NSTRUCTION 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

A PPLICATION 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?