Exploring Scientific Thinking with Online Materials
In order to entice students to rev up their scientific thinking, give them the purpose of the lesson, and along the way, find out what their existing knowledge regarding the lesson is.
When the students have already explored the topic, ask them to explain what they’ve learned, and how they can apply it to their everyday lives. These things greatly affect how they approach biology. For example.
To promote problem solving, ask them to:
- find out what information they need
- determine what strategies can be used
- figure out other applications for the results
- give a hypothesis
When they’re giving an explanation, ask them to:
- consider if it’s a fact or their opinion
- give the reason behind why the explanation is true or feasible
- elaborate if the explanation is applicable to all
Give them guidelines to judge their success also. This is particularly important in determining “what’s next.”
The next thing that can be done can be used to supplement existing knowledge or add to evidence of a result. These resources can come from several online science museums or websites dedicated to scientific development.
Check out these websites!
Sources:
“Fossils Museums.” Retrieved November 5, 2009 from
http://www.museumstuff.com/museums/fossils.php
“Museums in the USA.” Retrieved November 5, 2009 from http://icom.museum/vlmp/usa.html
“Online collections.” Retrieved November 5, 2009 from
http://www.si.edu/research/online-collections-datasets.htm
“Tips for Developing Scientific Thinking: The Constructivist Learning Model in Science.” Retrieved November 5, 2009 from http://www.pbs.org/teachers/_files/pdf/TL_ScienceTipCard.pdf
(Published 23 November 2009, Smart Communications Inc.)
