Science CommunicationLOLO.00.037

www.ut.ee/BG/scom

Session 3

Presentations

Presentations

• Each person has the opportunity to make a little presentation and show an optical illusion.

• The task is to introduce, show and help the audience to appreciate the optical illusion. But please keep it simple and you are welcome to make it fun.

• I would like to recommend we follow the sequence on the register so that we have a mix of presentations from participants from different faculties.

Outcomes from Questionnaire

I now invite you to examine the outcomes of your preferences in responding to the questionnaire in session 1. I recommend you undertake this as group work with 3-4 persons per group.

As the focus of attention is the outcomes in general (rather than individual responses), I present you with bar charts of the outcomes.

• What do the bar charts tell you? • Are you able to summarise the messages conveyed ?

Your Task

• Discuss the outcomes as illustrated by the bar charts. (I recommend we omit items 5, 6 and 7 from the discussion for the moment).

• Following the discussion, one member selected from your group will be asked to present the group deliberations/conclusions to the rest of the class.

Agreement/Disagreement on Questionnaire Items

• It seems there is general agreement in items 3, 4, 12, 13, 14 and 15.

• It seems there is much disagreement in items 1, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

• Uncertainty is a feature in items 1, 2, 7, 9 and10.

Interpretation Qu 1

• There is disagreement as to the tentative nature of science (A, B, H)

• Science is based on complex theories (D)• There is uncertainty as to whether scientists bow

to power or status ? (E)• There is uncertainty as to whether scientists like

large paradigm shifts or unfamiliarity ? (F, C)• Scientists do not use intuition in making

judgements (G)

Interpretation of Qu 2

• Science is not value free (A, B)

• Are scientists responsible for their actions? (C)

• Should scientists work under a code of conduct ? (A, B, C)

Interpretation of Qu 3

• Scientists mainly use imagination in their work (A,B)

• Is the use of imagination unscientific? (C,D)

• Can imagination be reliable ? (E)

Interpretation of Qu 4

• Does science proceed by revolutionary changes ? (A)

• Are theories permanent? (B)

• Are theories evolved rather than replaced? (C)

Interpretation of Qu 8

• Do beliefs influence observations ? (A,B)

• Is it true scientists do not hold the same ideas? (C)

• Are observations what we see – we all see the same ? (D)

• Does the use of different methods lead to non-bias observations? (E)

Interpretation of Qu 9

• Is there one scientific method, a number of methods, or no such thing as a method? (A, B, C, D, E)

• Most scientist use a logical method (B)

• Is the scientific method used to verify results? (F)

Interpretation of Qu 10

• Which is it – students should or should not learn the procedure of the scientific method ? (A, B, C,D, E, F, G, H, I)

• Can you agree with B and I?

Interpretation of Qu 11

• This question links to Qu 8

• Does being careful mean students will get the same findings ?(A, B, C)

• Observations are influenced by preconceptions (D, E)

Interpretation of Qu 12

• A question with strong agreement among the group, especially for items A and C.

• Why is it that scientific knowledge may change ? (A, B).

• What is the relationship between scientific knowledge and truth ?

Interpretation of Qu 13

• Another question with strong agreement across the group.

• Learning the definitions of and the relationships between hypotheses, theories and laws are necessary components of school science courses (A, B).

• So what are you suggesting about the nature of science and learning scientific facts?

Interpretation of Qu 14

• Should scientists have a conscience ? (A,B, C)

• But we realise that scientific research cannot be divorced from socio-cultural values (B, C). And hence science courses can involve personal beliefs and value-choices (E and G).

• Is the Nature of Science (and hence scientific research) bound by societal considerations? (E,F)

Interpretation of Qu 15

• The Nature of Science relates to personal conscience (A) and hence socio-cultural values (C).

• The Nature of Science cannot be detached from personal beliefs or subjective values? (E,F)

• But should the Nature of Science be about pursuing the truth ? (G)

Homework

• Please read through and respond to the questionnaire given (Please write your name on the questionnaire so that I can collect your responses).

• In responding, you can consult others if you so wish.

• The focus of interest is whether there is concensus. Do we have common agreement.

• My Prediction – there will NOT be consensus (unless you contrive to make this so).

• Exploring scientific inferences and explanations further

• Using an historical perspective

Crime against Plants

Crime scenes investigations are useful for showing how science can explain past events.

Hypotheses

• Historical science is just as valid as experimental science.

• Science deals with natural patterns and mechanisms.

• Scientific knowledge is uncertain, tentative and subject to revision.

From inferences to explanation

Look at the following pictures given related to the ‘crime’ against the plant.

Can you – determine the ‘crime’ against the plant and your hypothesis as to how the cause of events probably occurred ?

More information available fromhttp://www.indiana.edu/~ensiweb/lessons/plcr.les.html