KLEIN's
GUIDE TO
SCIENCE EDUCATION
PHOTO CREDIT: Nadene Klein at Tuolumne Meadows Yosemite National Park
Earlier this week I was instructing my Earth and Environmental science class on the components of the conclusion of a lab report. I was a the point where I was telling students that this is where they restate and evaluate their hypothesis, citing their data as evidence. I did not expect this to become controversial because it is a straight forward requirement of any lab report. It is part of THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD!
On this day a student began an intellectual debate on the necessity to evaluate his hypothesis. To paraphrase, he proclaimed that the experiment was designed to answer a question/solve a problem. Therefore anyone reading his lab report won't care if his hypothesis is right or wrong they only want the final answer. The status of his hypothesis was irrelevant to him and he projected that to say that it would be irrelevant to everyone. I expressed how this makes the scientist's thinking visible. It clarifies the direction and intent s/he had in conducting the experiment in the first place. He retorted with the notion that science is not an opinion so if the experiment has the answer the hypothesis is insignificant. He didn't realize that there can be bias in an experiment (intentionally or not). He did not realize the competition within the science community. Most importantly he did not realize how this pertains to the incredibly important need for all science to be recreatable and verifiable. My wording was lost on the young man as he was resolute. He listened only to respond rather than to understand. I could have been offended. However, I noticed the rest of the class picking up my argumentation and emphasizing the points I made. The rest of the class was hearing this. The rest of the class was "getting it." He on the other hand...I needed to work on him a bit more. I decided to try a different tactic. E-mail. He would need to read and process the information in an e-mail before he could respond again. I quoted other sources and linked an article that expressed the significance of the hypothesis as an exercise in scientific reasoning. Looking at sources he might find to be more professional and/or articulated in a way that impacted him more than my word choices was successful. I love how Neil DeGrasse Tyson alludes to this whole point in the following short video. Please note: this video includes so much more than just the importance of the scientific method. It is a strong message for all of us about science. Science in America Video Rather than stifle a student when s/he contradicts you, the teacher, foster it. Challenge that student to open his/her mind and articulate a feasible scientific argument. The students observing the exchange will be learning through the process too. Scientifically yours, Nadene
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In every quality science classroom we investigate and experiment. It is essential that students are able to distinguish the difference between the two. As students mature and have the opportunity to design their own experiments, they need to know what is required of an experiment. Too often students don't really know the difference. They try to plan an experiment that in fact is an investigation. Sadly, I think this lesson is overlooked in the younger grades.
So what is the difference? An investigation is basically hands-on research. It is a way to find out what one thing is made of or how one thing functions through observation. During an experiment, the scientist is testing something under different conditions by manipulation. Both independent and dependent variables can be identified in an experiment but not in an investigation. Scientists (students and professionals) learn much about the world via both investigation and experimentation. Both are meaningful and worthwhile. Let's make sure we know the difference. Scientifically yours, Nadene |
AuthorNadene Klein, M.Ed. has been an educator for over 25 years. She brings a passion and love for science to the classroom and through this blog to you. Archives
March 2024
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