NOS and Scientific investigationsn .pptx

natural sciences

1. Teaching Methodology and Practicum: Natural Sciences (MOSPNB3) Demonstrate an understanding of the wide view of the Nature of Science and Science Teaching ONLINE LESSON

2. NATURE OF SCIENCE NOS seeks to describe the nature of the scientific enterprise and the characteristics of the knowledge it generates

3. Why teach the nature of science? • it helps us better define the boundaries of science and non-science • increased student interest • developing awareness of the impacts of science in society

4. NOS Tenets Science is Empirically Based Scientific knowledge is derived from data and evidence gathered by observation or experimentation.

5. Scientific knowledge is tentative, yet durable. All scientific knowledge is subject to change in light of new evidence and new ways of thinking. That does not mean that we shouldn’t have confidence in scientific knowledge, rather that it may change in the future.

6. There is a difference between observation and inference Observation involves gathering information using the five senses while inferences are explanations based on observation and prior knowledge.

7. Scientific knowledge is theory-laden, yet partly subjective Scientists are influenced by subjectivity, while most strive to be objective. When scientists make an observation or take a measurement it is not possible to eliminate bias completely.

8. There is no single scientific method Scientists employ a wide variety of approaches to generate scientific knowledge. There is no single universal method.

9. Imagination and creativity play a role in Science Derived partially from observations of the natural world, but it involves human imagination and creativity. Example – what must have caused this?

10. There is a difference between Law and Theory A law is a succinct description of relationships or patterns in nature based on observation and is often expressed mathematically. Scientific theories are broadly based concepts that make sense of a large body of observations and experimentation.

11. Examples of Scientific Laws Hubble’s Law of Cosmic Expansion • Universal Law of Gravity • Newton's Laws of Motion • Law of Superposition • The Ideal Gas Law • Archimedes Law of Buoyancy

12. Examples of Scientific Theories Big Bang Theory • Theory of Evolution • Atomic Theory

13. Activity - Planning an Investigation on Natural Selection – Grade 9 Topic Background Information Investigation Question/ hypothesis Designing the investigation Data Collection Data Analysis and Interpretation (Ramnarain, 2010:177-179)

14. Referneces Denny Casey, D. 2012. The Nature of Science. Virginia Science Standards Institute. Ramnarain et al. 2010. Teaching Scientific Investigations.

15. THE END