Science 101: Building the Foundations for Real Understanding

Abstract

Two online projects offer one-stop shopping for teaching evolution, as well as the nature and process of science.

Many Paths Toward Discovery: A Module for Teaching How Science Works

“…The many decisions that scientists make as they conduct research are described as four categories in the How Science Works Flowchart (hereafter referred to as Flowchart) by Understanding Science (Figure 1, Understanding Science, 2016b; http://undsci.berkeley.edu/). Understanding Science is a comprehensive, practical resource for teaching how science works published by the University of California Museum of Paleontology (Thanukos, Scotchmoor, Caldwell, & Lindberg, 2010). Testing ideas is the central category on the Flowchart, and three other categories inform-and are informed by-those tests.…”

“…Ideas, including the practice of basing conclusions on observations and experiments, were found in 100% of pre-and postdiagrams (Figures 4 and 5: Concept 1, Table A2, available at http://www.nsta.org/college/connec tions.aspx). This success indicates that because students enter our classrooms understanding the basics of how to test ideas, their understanding about how science works will improve most dramatically when our instruction emphasizes other categories of the Flowchart (see also Thanukos et al, 2010).…”

Using the Understanding Science Flowchart to Illustrate and Bring Students' Science Stories to Life

“…The site was awarded Science Magazine 's Prize for Online Resources in Education (Thanukos et al. ), has been translated into Portuguese by the Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon, and has earned endorsements from the American Institute of Biological Sciences, the California Science Teachers Association, the National Association of Biology Teachers, the Encyclopedia of Life, and the Deep Earth Academy. A yearlong evaluation of the website conducted by Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) engaged 27 middle and high school teachers in an in‐service training program and reached 1287 students (Stuhlsatz ).…”

“He Fell in and That's How He Became a Fossil!”: Engagement With a Storytelling Exhibit Predicts Families' Explanatory Science Talk During a Museum Visit

“…Further, creating narrative is arguably part of doing science: scientists such as paleontologists and astronomers put together evidence and create plausible stories of what may have happened in the past. Despite the reliance on the standard scientific method in science classrooms, Judy Scotchmoor and colleagues showed, in the website (Understanding Science, 2021 ), that there are many complex aspects to how science really works (see Thanukos et al, 2010 ). This website, which serves as a tool for science teachers and students, uses narratives of how scientific discoveries were made to illustrate how scientific arguments rely on evidence and are embedded in the scientific community and the broader world.…”