Week 1

Introductions

Introduce yourself:

Breakout rooms- interview your partner (5 minutes).

Name, where are you from, what program are you in, what do you hope to be doing in 5 years.

Choose an Avatar image.

Describe your background in science, technology, and social studies.

"The sweetest sound to any student is the sound of their own name":

What is science?

Science is both a body of knowledge that represents current understanding of natural systems and the process whereby that body of knowledge has been established and is being continually extended, refined, and revised. Both elements are essential: one cannot make progress in science without an understanding of both. Likewise, in learning science one must come to understand both the body of knowledge and the process by which this knowledge is established, extended, refined, and revised.The various perspectives on science— alluded to above and described below— differ mainly with respect to the process of science, rather than its product.

The body of knowledge includes specific facts integrated and articulated into highly developed and well-tested theories. These theories, in turn, can explain bodies of data and predict outcomes of experiments. They are also tools for further development of the subject.

Science leans heavily on mathematics, both to create models of the physical world( such as kinematics and reaction rates, to name a few) as well as to record, analyze and display experimental data.

Similarly, experimental and investigational science, from astronomy to biotechnology, depends heavily on the use of technological devices and processes created by engineers.

Finally, to be effective, both scientists and students of science need to be literate, both to be able to read and understand publications, and to communicate their findings. While this communication has traditionally depended upon literary skills, increasingly this depends on being able to make effective use of video, simulations, and other multimedia.

Science vs Pseudoscience:

Pseudoscience consists of statements, beliefs, or practices that are claimed to be both scientific and factual but are incompatible with the scientific method.^{[1][Note 1]} Pseudoscience is often characterized by contradictory, exaggerated or unfalsifiable claims; reliance on confirmation bias rather than rigorous attempts at refutation; lack of openness to evaluation by other experts; absence of systematic practices when developing hypotheses; and continued adherence long after the pseudoscientific hypotheses have been experimentally discredited. Contemporary examples include anti-vaccination advocates and quack claims for Covid-19 treatments.

While a pseudo-science is set up to look for evidence that supports its claims, a science is set up to challenge its claims and look for evidence that might prove it false

What is engineering?

Engineering is the design of solutions to a human needs, typically based on a (mathematical ) model of materials or systems, and subject to constraints of time, money, performance requirements, and other factors.

Such a design is good enough for the required task. It does the job, with an adequate margin of safety, but is not wasteful.

Example: Pizza Engineering: How many pizzas do you order if 10 friends are coming for a pizza party?Engineering Model: Average person eats 2 slices, but some might eat more.

Calculation: If 8 slices per pizza, you might order 3 pizzas( safety factor of 2 slices) or 4 pizzas ( safety factor of 10 slices).

The most efficient design is the least expensive one that meets the performance criteria.

Engineering designs almost always involve trade-offs- speed vs force, cost vs performance.

Below: Boston's Zakim bridge, designed by Christian Menn, is a triumph of engineering and art, providing both a safe and efficient entrance to the city as well as expressing confidence and hope.

What is Technology?

Technology is literally the knowledge of techniques - the knowledge of how to make things

Each change in technology- stone age, bronze age, iron age, invention of concrete, invention of arch, electronics— has changed society.

Technology is the knowledge of how to make things, whereas technological artifacts are the objects produced with this knowledge- a clay pot, an iron sword, a computer, a Youtube video.

Technological skills and devices are used throughout scientific work, both in laboratory work and analysis, and should be embedded in lesson plans.

Examples:

• Using a triple beam balance

• Preparing a microscope slide

• Preparing a chemical dilution

• Implementing a PCR procedure

• Measuring tensile strength of a cable

• Dissecting a cow eye

• Graphing data using Excel

Conflicts regarding theft of technology have generally focused on theft of information, concepts, and techniques- how to weave cloth, how to make an atomic bomb, how to make a visual interface- vs theft of physical artifacts.

Educational Technology

Technology as a general concept should be distinguished from educational technology, which focuses on the the use of computer-driven tools and resources such as Chromebooks, Google Apps for Education, Zoom video, tablets, Khan Academy, and Scratch as classroom teaching aids.

That said, in the 21st century, educational technology can be a valuable tool for instruction, offering a myriad of tools and resources for communication, collaboration, differentiation, and creative expression, connecting the classroom to the wider world.

Educational technology enables us to do distance teaching. However, this is not without its challenges.

In the physical classroom, we can:

• monitor student attention

• throw out questions and respond to them

• have students do active learning procedures such as turn-and-talk and think-pair-share

• guide student practice and project work while we circulate around the room

• give targeted assistance

• check for understanding

• answer questions about homework or projects.

Other issues with educational technology include lack of access by the poor to equipment and networks,and other issues. See Failure To Disrupt-Why Technology Alone Can't Fix Education https://failuretodisrupt.com/ for more on these issues.