nature of science (nos)
DESCRIPTION
Nature of Science (NOS). Strategies to help students get started. View of Nature of Science Questionnaire Form C. Purpose: Assess learners nature of science views. Question: By incorporating the following pedagogies in my teaching BSCS 5E model Inquiry Toolkit Student designed lab project - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Nature of Science (NOS)
Strategies to help students get started
View of Nature of Science Questionnaire Form C Purpose: Assess learners nature of
science views. Question: By incorporating the
following pedagogies in my teaching BSCS 5E model Inquiry Toolkit Student designed lab project
Will students learn more about the nature of science?
Student Population N = 36 Foundations of biology course for
non-science majors Foundations: primarily first year
students
Implementation 5-6 BSCS 5E activities
Each activity reinforced a particular concept.
3-4 Guided Inquiry Labs Helping students identify:
Independent and dependent variables Question Hypothesis What is a control? Number of trials?
Student based lab project
How does the VNOS measure Nature of Science (NOS) Views?
Views are classified as: More naïve or More informed Interviews are key
Avoid misinterpretation of respondent meaning
Indicating problems with previous instruments
Generate profiles of meanings ascribed to NOS aspects
Methods Pre and Post Assessment (10 questions) Focus Questions:
Question #1a: What is science? Question 1b: What makes science (or
scientific discipline such as physics, biology, etc.) different from other disciplines of inquiry (e.g. religion or philosophy)?
Question #2: What is an experiment?
VNOS Analysis 8 out of 19 UMF natural scientists 1 Physicist, 1 Geologist, 1 Chemist, 4 Biologists, 1 Environmental
Science Educator Established More Informed Concepts Inter-rater reliability
3 undergraduate researchers Science educator
Pre Test Percentages
76
87
71
24
13
29
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1A 1B 2
Questions
Percentage (%)
Naïve
More Informed
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
Pretest Results
Q 1a
Q 1b Q2
Post Test Percentages
64
78
44
36
22
56
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1 2 3
Questions
Percentage (%)
Naïve
More Informed
Posttest Results
%
%
%
%
%
%
Q 1a
Q 1b
Q 2
Results Summary Question 1a: What in your view is
science? 14% were more informed
Question 1b: What makes science (or a scientific discipline such as physics, biology, etc.) different from other disciplines of inquiry? 9% were more informed
Question 2: What is an experiment? 27% were more informed
Nature of Science Evolution PBS Evolution Resources
How to Observe and Describe Go outside and find 4 natural objects 4 objects must look exactly like each-other (i.e. four leaves of
the same size and shape from the same tree) Work in pairs and choose 1 set of 4 objects Label each of the objects A, B, C, D Write a DETAILED description for each object on one side of
the index card. On the back of the index card indicate the correct
corresponding letter. When you are done be sure to have your descriptions facing
up and mix them up. Visit another groups objects and attempt to match the object
with its description. ONLY after all 4 objects have been matched, you can check
the back of the index cards to see if your matches are correct.
Mystery Cube
Beginning to look for trends/patterns
Mystery Shapes: Trends Arrange the 17 figures into
groups. You can have as many groups as you and your partner want.
On a piece a paper write down a statement describing why you have placed the figures in each particular group.
Mystery Shapes Data•Group 1 •Group 2 •Group 3 •Group 4
•NKMIAGD •NPJC
•FSCJ •GKIADE
•LOBH •SOLFB
•E •MH
•P
What if? Instructor chooses two interesting groupings (e.g. Team 1 & 3) Splits class in half 1/2 class arranges shapes like Team 1 1/2 class arranges shapes like Team 3 Students try and decide why team 1 (or 3 whichever is appropriate) arranged
the figures as they did, and they right down the reasons. This is their HYPOTHESIS.
Instructor passes out shapes Q & R and students TEST THE HYPOTHESIS by placing Q & R into the groups they think team 1 (or 3) would.
Students state why they think Team 1 (or 3) arranged the figures into their groups and to which group they think Team 1 would place Q & R
Team 1 now reveals whether the discussion has been accurate. If so the HYPOTHESIS IS SUPPORTED. If not, the hypothesis is not supported and must be rejected.
If Q & R are placed in the right group but for the wrong reasons other than those that Team 1 originally stated, the hypothesis is supported, but the hypothesis is incorrect. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT POINT FOR DISCUSSION
Checks Lab
NOS Skills in Action
Getting Organized Divide into research teams
2 per team Envelope with 16 checks is distributed
Envelope contains the same set of 16 identical cancelled checks from the same family or individual.
Select only four checks at random WAIT FOR THE INSTRUCTOR TO TELL YOU TO DO SO!!.
Analyze Checks What kinds of data do these cancelled checks
give us?” Select one recorder per group to keep track of
the data (4 check sets randomly chosen) Remove any four checks blindly and randomly
from the envelope and begin constructing a “story” about this family or individual.
What does this have to do with science? This phase is similar to scientists getting
information in a non-linear fashion and at different intensities.
Summary On Newsprint record an outline of your story
and select someone in your group not the recorder to share you conclusions.
Investment in your data Scientists who may study a phenomenon for years
cannot help but have an investment in the data they have been collecting. It is when this data and personal buy-in becomes public that ideas are either supported or refuted. That is how science works.
Checks Lab Directions Individual teams collaborate after
preliminary analysis Individual teams must collaborate
Similar to a scientist traveling to the Antarctic during a specific time of the year because of the weather.
Scientists must collaborate with each other to piece together a “story”
Beluga’s
Location
Beluga Characteristics
Donner Party: What is the data telling us?
•Observations •Interpretations
NOS Video PBS Nature of Science
NOS in Action Observations:
Young woman enters theater alone
Young man enters theater alone and sits next to woman
He does not say anything to her
How to start? What Questions
do you have about the situation?
Organizing Information What can we change? (Note: you can not ask
the two people questions) What will we observe? When we change______________ will the
man/woman _____________? Based on this question, We predict,______
__________________________ FORMING A HYPOTHESIS: Converting a
question into a statement.
Inquiry Grab BagWorking with Donner party data
teacher stuff
Introductory Exercises to Promote Science Thinking
Skills Observation skills Mystery Shapes: Looking for
Trends Analyzing Data: Looking for
Trends