Understanding scientific inquiry and the scientific method
You're
probably using this tutorial because you are taking a science laboratory
course. When you are in that lab you are expected to think
like a scientist and act like a scientist, so it's a good idea from
the beginning to talk about what that means--to think like a scientist
and act like a scientist.
BRAINSTORMING:Here
are some questions to think about: (answer
them in your own words)
What is a scientist?
What do scientists do?
What does it mean
to think like scientists?
When
you are done, click here for more ideas.
One helpful way of understanding what science is all about is to
think of it as an act of inquiry.
PRACTICE:
Think of something youíve always wanted to know about,
something that really intrigues you. Then, write down a series of questions
about it that you would like to answer. Click
here when you're done.
Now that you are familiar with scientific inquiry, you are ready to
explore it in the context of the scientific method. Scientific inquiry
is grounded in the process of the scientific method.
BRAINSTORMING:
Before we explore the details of
the scientific method, let's find out how much you already know about
the scientific method. On a sheet of paper, write the words "scientific
method" inside a big circle in the middle of the page. Think about
everything that comes to mind with respect to the scientific method
and connect your ideas to the main circle by drawing lines extending
outward from the circle. It should look something like this:
NEXT, take
the ideas you generated above and try to organize them into a series
of steps you think scientists take when solving problems or answering
questions.
Click
here when you're done
More
information on the scientific method
BRAINSTORM:
Everyone uses steps similar
to those of the scientific method when solving problems in everyday
life. Think about some ways you've used the scientific method in the
past week. Start out with a problem or question. Next, try to formulate
a hypothesis. What experiment or test would you use to check your hypothesis?
Click
here for some ideas
PRACTICE:
Now that you are somewhat familiar with the scientific
method, try practicing how to formulate hypotheses and design experiments
by reacting to different real-life scenarios.
Choose
a scenario
When practicing the scientific method, most people are engaged
in "scientific
thinking."
REFLECT:
Go back to the scenarios above, and review
your responses. Think about how you arrived at the hypotheses and experimental
designs you wrote above. Try to identify your line of thinking. Was
it consistent with scientific thinking? Write down your ideas.
Continue on to Objective
#2...
| 
