The Nature of Science

To be scientifically literate means to be able to interpret scientific knowledge. To understand scientific knowledge requires knowing something about how that knowledge is generated.

Science students of all ages need to understand how scientists work: that they seek explanations for the observations they make of the natural world; that to do this they create hypotheses about these observations that they can test by making predictions with outcomes that can be measured; that hypotheses can eventually be developed into robust theories that can be used to build machines like airplanes and washing machines that we know work reliably most of the time; and that even though science does not produce certainty we can still trust airplanes!

There are lots of opportunities for misunderstanding the nature of science and part of our job as teachers of science is to help students avoid these pitfalls. Please read the STAO (Science Teachers' Association of Ontario) position paper on the nature of science at:

Link to the SSCAO Position Paper on the Nature of Science

Questions and comments are strongly encouraged!