Science Framework, part 1 - Free Downloads (CA Dept of Education)

18Chapter 2The Nature ofScience andTechnologyat or below that boundary would beexpected (at many sites) to show amuch greater number (and diversity) offossils than would a sample of rockimmediately above it. Furthermore, ifthe extinction were to have been causedby the impact of an asteroid, the layerof “dust” falling after the impact wouldbe expected to show signs of the explosivenature of the impact and the compositionof the asteroid.The three principles of the scientificmethod cannot be used to determinehow the predictions of scientifictheory should be tested. Nor can theybe used to create new and even strongertheories. Inventing ways to testexisting theories or devising new theoriesrequires creativity as well as knowledge.The opportunity to makediscoveries through creative experimentsis what attracts many youngpeople to science careers. As with allendeavors, practice, experience, and theopportunity to watch others engaged insimilar efforts are highly beneficial tostudents.Scientific Practiceand EthicsScientists have the responsibility toreport fully and openly the results oftheir experiments even if those resultsdisagree with their favored hypothesis.They also have the responsibility toreport fully and openly the methods ofan experiment. For a scientist to hidedata, arbitrarily eliminate anomalies ina data set, or conceal how an experimentwas conducted is to invite errorsand make those errors difficult to discover.All scientists must seek explanationsfor anomalous observations andresults in order to improve their proceduresor to discover something new.They also carefully consider questionsraised by fellow scientists about theaccuracy of their experiments. Theseaccepted ethical practices of scientistsneed to be taught in the classroom at allgrade levels.Students sometimes feel pressure tocome up with the right or expectedanswer when performing an investigation.Some may even alter the results ofan experiment because they assume anerror has been made in observing, measuring,or recording data. Teachersmust encourage students to report theresults they actually get. Variations inresults allow students the opportunitiesto find problems with a procedure or anapparatus. Learning that such problemscome with doing science and learninghow to detect and correct these problemsare as important as reaching thenominal goal of an investigation. Todiscard the unusual in order to reachthe expected is to guarantee that nothingbut the expected will ever be seen.That step would be a distortion of science.Science and TechnologyTechnology is the repeatable andcontrolled manipulation of the naturalworld to serve human ends. A deepunderstanding of a phenomenon is notnecessary for successful technology. Forexample, the Romans did not understandwhy mixtures of limestone powder,clay, sand, and water hardened, butthey had no trouble using the result tomortar bricks. Still, the most spectaculartechnological advances often havefollowed from an understanding of fundamentalscientific principles. Ancient