KEY CONCEPTS of the NATURE of SCIENCE
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1. Science deals only with natural patterns and explanations, never supernatural.
            Only natural phenomena can be studied, and only natural explanations can be used.

2. Scientific knowledge is different from other kinds of knowledge.
            This is because it does not come from authority or by votes.  It is obtained through critical observation and subsequent critical testing of proposed explanations.  Published reports are critically peer reviewed to test validity.

3. Some scientific explanations are better than others.
            This is simply because they work better and explain more observations.

4. Collaboration leads to more reliable scientific knowledge.
            This includes the open sharing of data and interpretations in journals and conferences.

5. Scientific knowledge can be biased.
            All people have biases, but the rules of science are geared to minimize bias.

6. Scientific knowledge is stronger when it has multiple lines of evidence.
            Consilience of different, independent data-sets and analyses of those data, strengthens the knowledge.  [Consilience = data and conclusions are consistent for different studies.]

7. Scientific knowledge is always open to change with compelling new evidence.
            This is true to relative degrees.  Some scientific knowledge is relatively new and untested, but other scientific knowledge is well established due to long term testing and successful application, and therefore unlikely to be overturned; it’s durable.

8. Testing of scientific ideas means trying to disprove those ideas, not to prove them.
            If the knowledge survives repeated testing, then the knowledge is strengthened.

9. Scientific tests should be “Fair Tests.”
            This means that results could go either way, depending on the validity of the explanation.

10. Good science is different from poor science, pseudoscience and non-science.
            Not recognizing those difference can lead to uncritical thinking and poor choices.

All the ENSI NOS lessons adhere to one or more of the above concepts.  Whenever you are assessing learning after using ENSI NOS lessons, be sure that you put primary focus on these concepts.  It might be helpful for you to place a large poster on the wall with at least the boldfaced numbered Key Concepts displayed and easily visible throughout the room (see next page).  From time to time, ask different students to indicate which (one or more) of the Key Concepts a particular lesson (or part of a lesson) illustrates.

Below you will find the Key Concepts of the NOS in outline format, convenient for display in your room:

KEY CONCEPTS of the NATURE of SCIENCE

1. Science deals only with natural patterns and explanations, never supernatural.

2. Scientific knowledge is different from
other kinds of knowledge.

3. Some scientific explanations are better than others.

4. Collaboration leads to more reliable scientific knowledge.

5. Scientific knowledge can be biased.

6. Scientific knowledge is stronger when it has
multiple lines of evidence.

7. Scientific knowledge is always open to change
       with compelling new evidence.

8. Testing of scientific ideas means trying to
disprove those ideas, not to prove them.

9. Scientific tests should be “Fair Tests.”

10. Good science is different from poor science, pseudoscience and non-science.