Scientific Method What is science? What is the scientific method?

 Problem solving tool  Follows certain steps  Develops critical thinking  Sort of like “I.D.E.A.” in POW (logical way to think through a problem)  Is logic the most important thing in Science? NO! The best scientists are EXTREMELY creative (J.G.!) What is the Scientific Method?

 The scientific method has been used for as long as people tried to answer q’s about the world  Previously, was very “linear” (still is earlier on)  Moving towards the S.M as “circular”  More of an outline/guideline  Why more “circular”?  Albert Einstein’s idea of “scientific method”

 PROBLEM  A QUESTION TO BE ANSWERED  skills: observing, communicating STEP #1: THE PROBLEM

 RESEARCH!  GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROBLEM  skills: communicating, analyzing investigations  WHAT KIND OF INFO DO WE GATHER? JUNIOR HIGH VS. HIGH SCHOOL VS. UNI VS. RESEARCHER * One of my favourite parts about Science** STEP #2: research!

 HYPOTHESIS!  A POSSIBLE EXPLANATION OR ANSWER  Skills: predicting, communicating, identifying variables, constructing hypotheses, designing investigations STEP #3: hypothesis

 EXPERIMENT!  A TEST TO CHECK THE HYPOTHESIS  HOW MANY TESTS SHOULD WE DO (SCIENTIFIC THEORY)  Skills: measuring, identifying variables, defining operationally, communicating, experimenting  ** my other favourite part** STEP #4: Experiment

 OBSERVATION!  INFORMATION GATHERED THROUGH THE SENSES AND RECORDED AS DATA  Skills: observing, classifying, communicating, measuring STEP #5: Observations

 CONCLUSION!  A POSSIBLE ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM BASED ON EVIDENCE FROM THE EXPERIMENT  Skills: Inferring, communicating, analyzing experiments  IS THE EVIDENCE ALWAYS ACCURATE? UNBIASED? STEP #6: Conclusions

 Sheldon finds out that Penny is going to be giving him a Christmas gift. Normally, we wouldn’t think of this as a problem, but Sheldon definitely does!  It is a problem because Sheldon needs to know what Penny is going to give him in order to decide on what kind of gift to give her, in return. Your Turn: state the problem clearly – usually as a question. STEP #1

 Sheldon needs to gather information about what to give Penny, a girl, for Christmas.  This would be done by doing research and asking questions.  Sheldon would need to discover what is already known about the problem. Your Turn: What kind of information would we already know about “girl-y” Christmas gifts? STEP #2

 This “educated guess” is based on the research that was done before. Your Turn: What could your hypothesis be? What would Penny enjoy as a Christmas gift? STEP #3

 Sheldon organizes and analyzes all of the data that he is given at the Bath/Soap Store – by his friends as well as the sales lady.  STEP #5

 STEP #6  And for your enjoyment; here’s what happened..…  

 Scenario:  You are flying across the Rocky Mountains on a small plane to visit your family. Only you and the pilot are on board. Somewhere over the mountains the pilot has a heart attack. The pilot crash-lands the plane into a lush forest at the base of a mountain. You survive the crash but are alone and have no way of calling for help. What must you do to survive until the rescuers arrive? Is the scientific method limited to “Science”?

  National Science Teacher’s Association  Bree’s brain Bibliography