The Nature of Science
Embedded Files
Helping students understand the Nature of Science
Science is more than just a body of knowledge; it is the process of discovering new knowledge. Therefore, science education needs to involve more than just memorizing what scientists have already figured out. Students also need to learn about the processes that scientists use to generate new understandings about the universe. In other words, it involves understanding the Nature of Science.
The Nature of Science is what distinguishes science from other methods of knowing such as art, philosophy, or social science. The Nature of Science includes understanding that while scientific knowledge is based on empirical evidence, it is also subject to change based on new evidence. Science is a human endeavor that requires creativity, but also objectivity.
The Nature of Science is further delineated into three big ideas:
The Practice of Science
The Characteristics of Scientific Knowledge
The Roles of Theories, Laws, Hypotheses, and Models.
Scientists engage in activities to learn about the universe. They formulate questions and construct ways to investigate those questions. They collect and evaluate data, engage in argumentation, and develop explanations and communicate their findings. Rather than there being a set sequence to these activities, scientists engage in them on an “as needed” basis. One way to think of these activities is as a set of tools in a scientist’s toolbox that they pull out and use when appropriate.
There are many ways that students can learn about the Nature of Science, but research on student learning has shown that students develop this understanding best by actually “doing science” in the same way scientists do. This approach to science learning helps students understand the Nature of Science and is particularly useful in developing an understanding of scientific concepts themselves.
The Practice of Science
UC Berkeley: Sciecne 101 - Learn what Science is, how it works, and how it connects to your life
The Characteristics of Scientific Knowledge
UC Berkeley: Science 101 - Learn what Science is, how it works, and how it connects to your life
Thinking Like A Scientist
PBS Science Practices and the Nature of Science - takes a deep look at scientific methods, systems, and thinking. Additional topics include the limitations of science, and building hypotheses. Includes videos, interactive lessons, Interactives, images and lesson plans
Observation / Inference
Claim - Evidence - Reasoning
Communicating Like a Scientist
Communication in Science Channel - Communicate the results of experiments and observations through reports and visual data representations like tables, graphs, and charts. Communication is the final step in the scientific method, the process by which scientists make discoveries. For new knowledge to change existing theories, technologies, and methods, it must be available and comprehensible to others. Determining the best way to present and communicate results is critical to advancing scientific knowledge.
Controversial Topics & Misinformation
Controversy is a core part of the scientific enterprise. As citizens, we must constantly navigate different perspectives and make sense of conflicting arguments on issues that impact our everyday lives. However, in our schools we have often been reluctant to engage students in the examination of controversial topics in science. Being able to reason about and act on controversial science topics is fundamental to being scientifically literate. Learning how to teach such topics will help ensure that students are equipped to participate fully in our democracy.
Addressing controversial science topics in the K-12 classroom
Challenged Topics in Science - (Evolution, Climate Change, Vaccines) Teacher ToolKit
Controversy in the Classroom: Strategies for managing climate change discourse
Critical Skills for Navigating Science Information in Media - SIFT
Share of Snooze Quiz - Is your information from a credible source?
The SIFT Method - a four-step strategy for evaluating online sources and spotting misinformation,
The Role of Theories, Laws, Hypotheses, and Models
UC Berkeley: Sciecne 101 - Learn what Science is, how it works, and how it connects to your life
Science at Multiple Levels - Science Hypotheses, Theories & Laws
Science Hypotheses
Predictions - Developing Testable Hypotheses - Students examine data and hypothesize about what the data can tell them
Science Law
Page updated
Report abuse