Hi Everyone,
Welcome to your IdEA capstone course. This is the class blog where you will reflect on class activities, discussions, projects and papers. I look forward to meeting you, soon.
Dr. E
The links to Uncommon Sense have some technical problems. I am attempting to resolve this issue. I am extending the deadline on that reading until next week's blog. If you have already read and blogged about it, make sure you are also blogging about the Scientific Process, as well.
Dr. E
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Week 1: After reading the Scientific Process it occured to me that many of us are not use to seeing the "scientific method" this way. However, I think this is a more useful way of demonstrating how scientists do research. A scientist must first develop a question and then carefully plan an experiment, as often times funds are limited. Once the experiment is conducted, researchers organize and analyze their results. This process allows them to explore the any relationships that exist and further drives research questions. What I found to be most interesting about the article was the very last sentence, "it is important to understan that a hypothesis can either be proven wrong or incorrect but rarely be proven with absolute certainty." Being a Chemistry Education major I find this to be a critical point in teaching students about the scientific process. Too often we ask students to accept theories and laws as facts instead of letting them explore their ideas. In order to promote science education, we must first inspire students to devise scientific questions and conduct their own experiments.
ReplyDeleteMy opinion of The Scientific Process is that this could correlate to multiple avenues besides only scientific venues. Many industries use a similar model when planning budgets, excursions, and even take-overs. These processes may not seem as complex, but the model is relatively the same.
ReplyDeleteIt is a relatively simple process to grasp and more learning outlets should take advantage of its simplicity. If we could tie this process into everything we learn, we would have a uniform learning process that should/could boost performances linked to education, business, etc.
The Scientific Process to me seems never ending. After the process is completed and the publishing stage is finally reached it appears to me that questions immediately arise about what was discovered. Then a new scientist takes any knowledge currently available and forms a new hypothesis. After continuous testing and retesting of ideas and theories more information can be added, in turn increasing the strength and validity of the argument. I could not agree more with the first two posts on the importance of mastering the Scientific Process in order to improve production in education and in business.
ReplyDeleteThe article on the Science Process, including Planning, Conducting, Processing and Evaluating, was informative in many ways. I agree with statements in the article such as, "the more evidence that is collected to support an hypothesis from testing in different situations, the more confidence can be placed in the hypothesis." This applies to all scientific theories in order to create a law; if results from an experiment have the same consistant results, the theory can be proven. Also, I was suprised to learn that part of the evaluating process is the obligation to share the results of the experiments with the scientific community and others. The Science Process can be applied to all disciplines in some way or another, and is a good systematic approach to finding solutions to any kind of issue.
ReplyDeleteI definately agree that the Scientific Process (plan, conduct, process, evaluate) can be used in many different avenues. It is the most logical way to go about solving a specific question or an area of interest that is questionable. I also think that along with hypothesizing, stepping outside of the box is a must during this process. Stepping in someone else's shoes, or taking the opposing side to something is a great way to completely analyze a question, situation, or area of questionable interest. Exploring different paths to a question that may not be the norm, could possibly produce unexpected, favorable (or unfavorable) results. The Scientific Process allows the question/topic at hand to be researched and analyzed thoroughly, in the correct order, hopefully providing positive results.
ReplyDeleteThe scientific process is a great way of answering questions. I believe that the scientific process gives us the ability to take something that we do not understand and, by a specific process (hence scientific process), explain in terms that are easily understandable for everyone. Although the scientific process is a good way of explaining things I do believe that there will always be things that are unexplainable no matter how closely someone follows the scientific process steps. The only way that we will ever get close to answering all the questions that man holds is by questioning and having an imagination. Everything starts with an idea and the the scientific process follows after words. We just have to make sure that our faith in the scientific process doesn't keep us from asking question that we "think" we already know the answer to.
ReplyDeleteThe scientific process is a great way to solve a problem or find answers to questions that you have. I agree with Derek when he says that the scientific process is never ending because as soon as somebody publishes the research they have done, someone immediately tests the findings or they build upon what has been discovered by going one step further with a new hypothesis. At the end of the article it says that a hypothesis can either be proven right or wrong but rarely proven with absolute certainty. I believe that sentence to the fullest and believe that not many things can be proven with absolute certainty. Just because a few scientists come up with the same results it does not prove their findings absolutely correct, because as new research is done what was believed to be fact can be proven false. So the scientific process is always continuing and never ending.
ReplyDeleteI was reading the first chapter of the book Titled Uncommon Sense. Since I have a biology minor I have lightly studied a lot of what this chapter talks about, however, the way this book is written gives more excitement to the whole idea of science and what we could someday expect from it. My favorite part was early in the chapter where the author, Alan Cromer, goes into the history of the hot air balloon and how that affected society stirring the human imagination. This event in the 1700's started building the idea that they could go to the moon. And now that we've already been to the moon, where to next? I hear the oceans are still extremely unexplored. Science is an adventure.
ReplyDeleteThe Scientific Process is a useful process to investigate phenomena, to acquire new innovations, corrections, and knowledge to a question or problem. To investigate scientifically a problem moves through 4 processes that include planning, conducting, processing, and evaluating. This helps developed an hypothesis. It is better to use the scientific process in order to develop a right answer then to skip around necessary steps. Research needs to be done and the scientific process will help and elaborate useful qualities in developing good hypothesis. The Scientific Process is a great way to solve and debunk questions and or problems that are asked.
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ReplyDeleteAfter reading about the Scientific Process, I saw that this could be a vital tool for not only solving problems in science, and I was able to connect it to some of the education courses I have taken in the past. It is important for teachers to connect the subjects that they are teaching with each other. So, as I was reading, I was able to see that the Scientific Process could be used in many other classrooms. In a reading classroom, students predict what will happen in a story. They find examples in the book to support their claim, and at the end of the story they are able to see if their prediction was right or not. Or, when a student is writing a paper, they create a thesis and research it to find support to back up it up. Then, they bring all the information they have gathered and construct it into a paper to prove that thesis to others. Therefore, the Scientific Process is a tool that can be used to solve many different types of problems, these are just a few.
ReplyDeleteI feel that the scientific process is important for everyone to know. Not only is it a great pathway to finding answers in science, but it also serves as a pathway to finding answers in everyday life. In the business world, it is especially important to follow steps similar to that of the scientific process to solve problems. I have even had an accounting class where our professor used the scientific method to solve budgeting problems. Unconsciously, everyone has used the scientific method at some point in their lives. Next time there is a problem, try solving it with and without the scientific method. The pathway to the solution may be shockingly similar.
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ReplyDeleteChapter 1 of Uncommon Sense was very beneficial in showing how much we take science for granted and how it is misunderstood. As stated in the chapter, many principles stated thousands of years ago, such as Archimedes' principle of buoyancy, are still being taught today. Principles such as these are the fundamentals of knowledge that lead to new discoveries. Scientific knowledge acquired throughout history is a permanent part of human knowledge. And, although many people are skeptical and would rather take a stance against scientific knowledge due to their own personal beliefs, they need to take a step back and see things as they are, not how they perceive them to be.
The scientific process, consisting of planning, conducting, processing, and evaluating, is a very important process used to produce answers. The first step is to ask questions. Next, the experiment is conducted and the procedures are documented. The data is then analyzed to identify any patterns. Finally, the findings are evaluated in relation to the hypothesis. The hypothesis is a vital component of the scientific process and, as stated in the reading, "it may be proven wrong or incorrect but is rarely proven with absolute certainty." This is so because if the results do not meet up to the hypothesis, testing begins all over again and even if a result matches the hypothesis, there is always going to be someone trying to prove the hypothesis wrong. Therefore, the process just continues without true certainty.
In chapter 1 of Uncommon Sense I gathered alot about the base of todays science. It appears that scientific knowlege grows expotentially. The future of science can hardly be predicted. Advance scientific principles from the 1700-1800s are being taught in grade school and highschools across the nation. Today, the research, and scientific breakthroughs will most likely become second hand knowledge to children living a hundred years from now. In the beginning of the book, the author talks about the first hot-air balloon travel in 1783. People during this time couldn't believe their eyes. Now in 2010, we have air traffic control just to ensure that the thousands of planes in the sky don't collide! I think this chapter really relects the idea that we can hardly grasp what the future of science holds.
ReplyDeleteThe scientific process is something that I have had to make second nature. I started off as a biology major and now changed to psychology. Initially, I figured that the scientific method was primarily designed for biology;however it appears that it is far more universal than I thought. The principles of the scientific method can be used in any field of study. After several years I have come to the conclusion that the scientific method is the only rational way to go about answering difficult questions. I believe everyone uses the scientific method before they even realize what it is. I like how Tyler said, "Next time there is a problem, try solving it with and without the scientific method. The pathway to the solution may be shockingly similar." I think if we were to try this, we would find it more difficult to eliminate the scientific method from our thinking. It's far easier to use it than to eliminate it.
I would like to say that I believe the scientific process is something that is needed to be taught to everyone in society. I believe this because it provides individuals another thought process that can be utilized to solve problems and issues. If we as a society today are going to come up with solutions to our problems then we need to be able to stop thinking unilaterally and start thinking outside the box. Also I believe that the scientific process gives empowerment to individuals to think that anything is possible. In the past people believed it impossible to go to space, now we have sophisticated pieces of engineering marvel that allow us to live in space. I think it is important that we possess the ability to use and think using the scientific process.
ReplyDeleteThis is a test I trying to get my post to work
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the class reading "The Scientific Process," I have grown new insight to my processes of daily living. I realized that with any unanswered or unresolved conflict, I often use the Scientific Process to find possible solutions and outcomes. The Scientific Process is useful in solving any question that may come up.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the class reading "Uncommon Sense: The Heretical Nature of Science," I was impressed to learn that science is a relatively new subject of knowledge. I also loved the fact that the knowledge of science is more accumulator than circular pattern throughout history.
The scientific process has been in my line of study for sometime now and comes natural when experimenting with anything unknown. I am Biology major which everything has an unknown question almost and to solve such unknowns most of the experiments done in labs have to go through the steps. These steps a great when used but like the uncommon sense commented on, in the future it might be expanded on but it is a basis for understanding science now.
ReplyDeleteThe reading of Uncommon Sense recapped the recent years of why I became a science major. The overwhelming disere to learn the unknown is what drives my study habits and the laws of physicists and chemists in the past bogel my mind on how complex the answers must have seemed in that time era. The basis for our understanding of science is concrete but while saying that the author commented that nothing is ever going to be concrete to the "T" because something can always be disproven with advancing technology. Great reading and hope that next weeks is just as good.
The scientific process is very important. It can be used in a multitude of ways, not only for science, but in everyday life. It is important that people take time to learn how to use the scientific process effectively so that they can become more aware and able to take on things in everyday life. As a biology minor, I have used the scientific process in many ways and after reading this it became evident how important it is to learn to use the scientific process effectively.
ReplyDeleteThough the scientific process was developed to help further progress scientific research, it also aids in all fields of study. People unknowingly use it everyday because it is the most efficient tool of problem solving. I think it is essential for all people, especially younger individuals, to learn and apply the scientific method in everyday use. It will greatly benefit them in the future.
ReplyDeleteChapter 1 in "Uncommon Sense" brings up several interesting topics and points. A point that needs to be elaborated is how the general public only seems interested when large scientific breakthroughs occur such as the hot-air balloon or the first cloning of a mammal. These events raise interests in millions of people but for the most part I think they simply die out after awhile and the significance is sadly forgotten. Another point sparked by the history of scientific breakthroughs is the general publics opinion about science as a whole. For instance many people, polls showing above 40%, acknowledge science when seems convienent for them but deny it whether there is empirical proof to back up the statements and theories. The big topic being evolution. It's frustrating to see people pick and choose their beliefs in science when proof is everywhere to be found if one would stop to listen with an unbiased mindset.
Week 1:
ReplyDeleteThe Scientific Process is a process that people can take with them into any field, not just science. Coming from a journalism perspective I can say that the scientific process is a lot like the processes, guidelines, and structures I have to go through within my field of study. From studying and doing research into who my audience is, to understand the company/ organizations stance on issues, to laying out the message I want to get across, then allowing for feedback, and the list goes on. Within media there's a lot of processes that go on considering we're like the gateway along with being a watchman so to speak for getting information to the general public. Therefore no matter what age a person is, no matter their background in education, I think it's important for everyone to understand the scientific process and how it plays out in many things within our society and every day life.
For the class reading of Chapter 1: "Uncommon Sense," I find that it touched on quite a number of good points when it comes to science and the study of science. I mean for the field of study with science still being considered fairly new, that doesn't surprise me if you take into the consideration the wide-variety of scientifc breakthroughs, discoveries, etc. that are constantly being talked about. Science is always changing, and there's always something to be discovered, studied, researched, and the list goes on. I think that's why, despite the fact that I'm a journalism major, I still find science quite intriguing and try to keep up with what's going on in the science world as much as I cam. I mean I believe that everyone needs to understand how science plays out in every day life, and that education for science is pretty crucial when it comes to maintaining a level of superiority as a country within the world we live in today. If we fall behind when it comes to science along with matters concerning both science and technology, it's hard to make that ground up while other countries are on the fast track to succeeding us in those areas, due to how today's society has become so fast-pace.
Week 1:
ReplyDeleteHaving studied Biology in college, the Scientific Process and Scientific Method have played an important role in my schooling. Although I may have to use this method specifically for my future career, everyone within society can benefit from understanding and applying to their daily lives. Utilizing this approach provides a rational and effective way to solving problems of all kinds and magnitude. Two key components of the process, its wide acceptance and cyclical nature, are responsible for making effective.
Due to its uniform acceptance this process can be applied universally and thus transcends differences in both culture and nationality. Since scientists around the world are able to "speak in the same language" it enables global collaboration on national and international issues facing humankind. Its standardized and accepted nature also enables the this process to be cyclical. Rather than withholding knowledge and competing with one another this process encourages transparent and open communication of data and ideas. Increased analysis and scrutiny of any data will surely lead to advances in knowledge, which can then be altered or built upon due the cyclical structure of the process.
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ReplyDeleteI found the article The Scientific Process quite interesting. I don't think all scientific theories will be disproved over the course of time, but rather expanded or clarified just like the Newtonian example in the reading. It is the chance of change in science that makes the subject so interesting to study and teach. This is why it is so important to create a public appreciation for science research. Who knows how many elements in the periodic table are still yet to be found and created? Who knows how far we will be able to fly into space in the near future? The author of the article makes a good point in saying that science is so hard to teach to students. I think one major reason why it is so hard to teach is because some scientific findings, like evolution, conflict with the religous views of families. Kids are not being taught these theories because schools don't want to offend parents and their children.
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