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SCIENCE AS EXPLORATION INSTITUTE 2001

What IS "science"? ... an ongoing conversation

Participants in the Science As Exploration institute had a series of questions to reflect on, and provided brief answers in an on-line forum. The questions and responses are provided below.

Consider the following list of words

Discuss similarities and differences between them, and the relations among them. Provide a brief summary of your discussion.

Name: Regina, Gerry, and Nayjuana
Username:
Subject: Conflicting Terminology
Date: Thu Jul 12 13:51:30 EDT 2001
Comments:
A BELIEF will hold true for one person, but not for everyone. A FACT should hold true for everyone. OPINION is based on individual belief. You really don't have concrete evidence or proof. THEORY has conflicting evidence which is not yet a FACT.
Name: Doris Daniels & Wendy Marr
Username: wmarr@phila.k12.pa.us
Subject: The objective vs. subjective approach.
Date: Thu Jul 12 13:53:32 EDT 2001
Comments:
In the study of science, we think that an objective approach is best, yet as citizens, we all bring a subjective approach to the table. We must therefore be aware of our biases and constantly ask ourselves, "Are we asserting our biases and 'tainting' our findings, results, etc
Name: Joan Johnston, Jerry Wasserman, Marita Wagner
Username:
Subject:
Date: Thu Jul 12 13:54:43 EDT 2001
Comments:
science religion
fact opinion
observation belief
hypothesis truth
theory faith
interpretation interpretation
objective subjective

Albert Einstein stated when asked if he believed in God - he stated he believed in a "Higher Order". If it's good enough for Einstein, it's good enough for us.

Name: Lee & Stone
Username: cwilliamsstone@phila.K-12.pa.us.
Subject:
Date: Thu Jul 12 13:56:01 EDT 2001
Comments:
Science,observation, hypothesis, fact and theory are interrelated because they are relative to the scientific process. Each is interactive with one another.

Faith, religion, belief, interpretation, opinion and theory are components t defining what science is contingent upon your personal perspectives.

Science is both subjective and objective pertaining to the scientific process which includes inquiry, hypothesis, observation/data, analysis and conclusion.

Name: BOB AND MARLENE
Username:
Subject:
Date: Thu Jul 12 13:59:47 EDT 2001
Comments:
USING AN INVISIBLE VENN DIAGRAM CONCEPT, WE DECIDED TO SHOW THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN RELIGION AND SCIENCE AND ALSO THE DIFFERENCES. FOR EXAMPLE, WE FOUND THAT BY USING RELIGION AS OUR TOPIC; THE WORDS TRUTH, BELIEF, THEORY, OPINION, AND SUBJECTIVE ALL RELATE TO THE WORD RELIGION. THE WORD SCIENCE WE FOUND THE FOLLOWING; FACT, OBSERVATION, HYPOTHESIS, INTERPRETATION AND TRUTH ALL RELATE TO SCIENCE.
Name: Carol,Deonna and Wanda
Username:
Subject: What is Science?
Date: Thu Jul 12 14:00:12 EDT 2001
Comments:
1. Hypothesis- We believe that one's hypothesis is based upon one's opinion and observations. 2.

Consider and discuss the following sentence (cf The Galileo Project):

Provide a brief summary of your discussion

Name: Lee & Stone
Username: cwilliamsstone@phila.K-12.pa.us.
Subject:
Date: Thu Jul 12 14:17:01 EDT 2001
Comments:
The earth goes round the sun did not have validity 500 years because people disbelieved the Earth had a sphere shape and consequently it was flat and you would fall off the end of the Earth if you went to edge. The scientific knowledge which we have today was unavailable to prove accurate the theory, the Earth goes around the sun.
Name: BOB AND MARLENE
Username:
Subject: BOB AND MARLENE
Date: Thu Jul 12 14:18:06 EDT 2001
Comments:
WE BELIEVE THAT THE EARTH GOES AROUND THE SUN TOO1 WHY? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TOLD! NOW IF YOU WANT MORE INFO. ON THIS CONCLUSION ASK GOD.
Name: Regina, Gerry, and Nayjuana
Username:
Subject: The Earth Around the Sun
Date: Thu Jul 12 14:18:51 EDT 2001
Comments:
The earth revolving around the sun has been an accepted truth for many,many years. However, the earth revolving around the sun has not really been proven; therefore, the statement is a theory. (Has anyone actually observed the earth revolving around the sun?)
Name: Doris Daniels & Wendy Marr
Username:
Subject: "The earth goes around the sun."
Date: Thu Jul 12 14:18:53 EDT 2001
Comments:
We think this statement is correct given the latest reports, data, and satellite images. Oh, Yes!!
Name: Carol, Deonna, and Wanda
Username:
Subject: The earth goes around the sun.
Date: Thu Jul 12 14:20:06 EDT 2001
Comments:
Have you rented a space shuttle lately? Have you ever been to the sun? Do you have distant relatives from the sun? The notion that the earth is revolving around the sun is not a proven fact. Early science theorized that the earth was in fact a flat surface. Using that hypothesis, there would be no revolution of either planetary body. Since we have not observed the earth's movement around the sun we can only interpret the information we have been given.
Name: Joan, Jerry, Marita
Username:
Subject:
Date: Thu Jul 12 14:21:50 EDT 2001
Comments:
Based upon satelite date, Galileo was right. The heresy of the 16th Century is the axiom of the 21st. It's as plain as "night and day". Or you can believe it because of it's all "Relative". P.S. a la the theory of relativity under different mathematical systems, two objects may show a different relationship to each other from those in our own system. Therefore, the earth might not be orbiting the sun under that system.

Consider and discuss the following sentence (cf Science and Creationism and Creation Science):

Provide a brief summary of your discussion

Name: Lee & Stone
Username: cwilliamsstone@phila.k-12.pa.us.
Subject:
Date: Thu Jul 12 14:33:04 EDT 2001
Comments:
Life forms evolved from earlier creations that included mutations and reproduction. We believe that based upon the scientific process of evolution, life is as it is today.
Name: Regina, Gerry, and Nayjuana
Username:
Subject: Evolution-Perspective
Date: Thu Jul 12 14:34:04 EDT 2001
Comments:
You can look at this phenomena in two different perspectives: 1) SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVE: process of evolution, whereas this statement would hold true. 2) RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVE: From a religious standpoint you would not agree with this because of the story of Creation.
Name: Carol, Deonna and Wanda
Username:
Subject: To be or not to be......
Date: Thu Jul 12 14:34:56 EDT 2001
Comments:
All life forms are in a state of perpetual change based upon the continuous evolutionary process. It is very hard to grasp the evolutionary process because one cannot achieve something from nothing. There has to be, for us, a higher power to create life. We must look to GOD for answers on how man has come to be.
Name: anonymous
Username:
Subject:
Date: Thu Jul 12 14:37:16 EDT 2001
Comments:
Some people go "Ape" over this construct. We, on the other hand are more primal. As humans, we assume an upright posture here - we are opposable to Creationism. But we want to know - does all evolution have to be so random?
Name: anonymous
Username:
Subject: Bob and Marlene
Date: Thu Jul 12 14:37:47 EDT 2001
Comments:
This is difficult for us to comment because there is not enough time to explore all of the ramifications of what is being inferred. .
Name: 'DAZZLING' Doris Daniels & 'WONDERFUL' Wendy Marr
Username:
Subject: Existing life forms (including humans) are present because of a previous and ongoing evolution consisting of random change and selection (a differential reproductive success).
Date: Thu Jul 12 14:38:39 EDT 2001
Comments:
Well, "Coming from a Hip Place...", I, W. M., agree with this to a certain point. Example, humans aren't dying as young as in past centuries due to the refinement of cells...antibodies--Something along those lines. I, D. D., disagree, because from my religious beliefs.
Name: 'Dazzling' Doris Daniels & 'Wonderful' Wendy Marr:) :) :)
Username:
Subject: Question #4
Date: Thu Jul 12 14:50:52 EDT 2001
Comments:
****************************SEE Comment #1*********************************
Name: Regina, Gerry, and Nayjuana
Username:
Subject: Thank God the last Question
Date: Thu Jul 12 14:55:04 EDT 2001
Comments:
Parts of the evolutionary process can be intertwined with the Creation Story (theory and beliefs coincide). As for the inquiry-based pedagogy, it is a means that scientists use to study explanations of how, what,when, and why things are. Inquiry pedagogy promotes inquiry learning. AS EDUCATORS, WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE BETWEEN YOUR BELIEFS AND WHAT IS PRESENTED AS SCIENTIF FACT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reconsider "science" and discuss its relation to evolution, to inquiry-based pedagogy, and to the broader objectives of education. Provide a brief summary of your discussion

Name: Carol, Deonna, and Wanda
Username:
Subject: Seeing is believing.....
Date: Thu Jul 12 14:55:09 EDT 2001
Comments:
Children must see and be able to put their hands on something in order for it to ring true. "If you can believe it, you can achieve it." Very often our students see a great deal of the negative aspects of life and cannot forsee anything positive coming their way. Students should be able to "get it less wrong" more often to feel successful.
Name: Lee & Stone
Username:
Subject:
Date: Thu Jul 12 14:55:30 EDT 2001
Comments:
In relation to Evolution, Science has many facets that are interchangeable for which we use the scientific process to illustrate inquiry-base learning,and provide hands-on experiences to develop and expand knowledge.
Name: Bob and Marlene
Username:
Subject:
Date: Thu Jul 12 14:57:02 EDT 2001
Comments:
There's a certain aspect of evolution that can be explored through scientific methodology. That aspect is based on tangible findings(The theory of selective adaptation).
Name: Joan, Jerry, Marita
Username:
Subject:
Date: Thu Jul 12 14:58:59 EDT 2001
Comments:
Evolution is an established scientific theory, consistent with the use of scientific methodology and tools. Inquiry-based pedagogy, if done correctly, is uniquely centered upon scientific methods. Presently, modern educators using inquiry-based learning methods are encountering some of the problems scientists have when applying scientific constructs to tradionally non-scientific areas.

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