Computer Applications in Science

When people work together, it is important that they understand what their operating assumptions are.  You will be working in teams much of this year, beginning with this assignment. Your team's task is to:

1. Reach a consensus on the following questions:
• What is the purpose of the scientific method?
• What are the steps in the scientific method?
• Is there a different scientific method for different scientific disciplines?

 
2. Search the Internet for "What is the scientific method?"

 
3. Review assigned Internet article on the scientific method, answering the following questions:
• What purpose does the scientific method have according to the author?
• What steps does the author list for the scientific method? List these as bullets.
• According to the author, is there one scientific method or different ones for different sciences? If there are different methods, what is the difference and what is common to all sciences in their scientific method?
• Compare your team's consensus on what the scientific method is with your article. Include your team's understanding of the purpose of the scientific method. List the steps you formed a consensus on as bullets. Explain any differences you and the author of your article have about what the scientific method is.

 
4. Email your review to Ms Nystrom
• Sender cc's team members and keeps a copy for her/himself
• The Subject line should be "Review of [the title of your article]".
• Begin review with the title and URL of the article.
• Copy-Paste a quote for each of the first 3 bullets in # 3 above into an email.

Note: Not every article will address all of the questions.
• This email will be the beginning of an outline for a short PowerPoint presentation to the class about your article, your science advisor's input and your conclusions.

 
5. Consult with your team's assigned science advisor.
• Research who your science advisor is
• Search the Web site of their workplace for articles by and about them
• Divide articles among the team for reading and summarizing, include:

a. Job/position/department
b. Projects working or worked on
c. Topics of articles by or about the advisor
• Compare notes among team members, email team summary and questions for science advisor to Ms Nystrom
• Draft email to science advisor, send after review by Ms Nystrom.
• Introduce your team, the assignment, the class & school
• Ask her/him:

a. What is the scientific method and how do you use it?
b. How do you decide what projects to work on?
c. How do you use computers in applying the scientific method?
d. Include your team's understanding of the scientifc method and ask for comments.
 
6. Revise your team's definition as needed.

 
7. Create a PowerPoint presentation with the following elements:
• Title page, including the names of the presenters
• A maximum of 3-4 bullets per page
• At least every other page must have an image
• Your team consensus on what the scientific method is.

These must be short-phrase bullets.
• Your team's Internet article review with URL

Short-phrase bullets for the main points.
Use a graphic to represent the site.
• Your science advisor's perspective

Name, title, place of work
Her/his understanding of the scientific method, including purpose and steps, as short-phrase bullets
Include a picture of your science advisor and an image representing his/her work.
• Conclusion: From your consensus to your article review to your science advisor - what do you now conclude that the scientific method is, and why?
Use evaluation rubric as a guide

The timeline for this assignment will be given in class.

Further investigations:
When was the scientific method developed and why was it needed?
What is a scientific model?
What does a scientific theory consist of?