Aces

Is classroom science "real" science? Why/why not? No classroom science is guided discovery. Your repeating models that have already been used.

What are the unique features of position-driven discussion? How does this differ from typical forms of classroom discussion? What are the benefits of position-driven discussion for science learning? You need facts to support your point of view. It is designed to polarized the discussion so people have to state opinions, define them and evaluate them. Position-driven discussion is more student driven and requires higher level thinking than regular classroom discussion.

Why is it so important to distinguish between scientific argumentation and everyday argumentation? What do you think the main differences are between the two? In everyday argumentation you are trying to prove a point like if soup is or is not a meal. Whereas in scientific argumentation you are attempting to debate so that you can come to a shared understanding and consensus. Moreover scientific argument focuses on content as opposed to arguing at someone.

Can you give any examples from your academic career where you used scientific argumentation in the classroom? In physics when discussing activities before doing them there was scientific discussion. In our experience scientific discussion is not routinely used.

What does it mean to be "Scientifically Literate?" How would the book define this? How would you define this?

Scientific literacy is the knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts and processes required for personal decision making, participation in civic and cultural affairs, and economic productivity. It also includes specific types of abilities. In the National Science Education Standards, the content standards define scientific literacy. Scientific literacy means that a person can ask, find, or determine answers to questions derived from curiosity about everyday experiences. It means that a person has the ability to describe, explain, and predict natural phenomena. Scientific literacy entails being able to read with understanding articles about science in the popular press and to engage in social conversation about the validity of the conclusions. Scientific literacy implies that a person can identify scientific issues underlying national and local decisions and express positions that are scientifically and technologically informed. A literate citizen should be able to evaluate the quality of scientific information on the basis of its source and the methods used to generate it. Scientific literacy also implies the capacity to pose and evaluate arguments based on evidence and to apply conclusions from such arguments appropriately. (National Science Education Standards, page 22) Reprinted with permission from National Science Education Standards. Copyright 1996 by the National Academy of Sciences. Courtesy of the National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.

We define it as the ability to take a problem and find an answer to it utilizing the scientific method.

An article written three years ago stated that only 28% of the American Public is Scientifically Literate. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why or why not? If a scenario was given with how this was evaluated it would be much easier to make a statement. The general consensus is that it is much less.

What are the benefits of teaching a problem-based learning lesson? What drawbacks are there to this type of lesson? Forces students to use their own knowledge to come to a conclusion. More real life applications. Logistical problems with getting all students to participate and problems with students developing misconceptions.