SKILLS AND SUGGESTIONS
Scientific Skills Involved and Suggestions:
Skills:
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Collecting
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Recording and Analyzing Data
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Thinking Creatively
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Thinking Critically and
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Communicating Results
Suggestions:
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With respect to collecting data, please gather information from appropriate
links given to you on this document. ANY OTHER SITES YOU GO TO HAVE TO
BE PRE-APPROVED BY THE TEACHER.
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With respect to recording data, please use Excel, MSWorks, Clarisworks
or an appropriate spreadsheet. Make a data table with a title, variables
and units, if appropriate.
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With respect to analyzing data, use graphs to search for patterns. Compare
data and graphs from different sites if possible. Note: nature does tend
to be capricious and patterns from a single event may not mean that patterns
will be the same in all cases. The more events you examine, the closer
the patterns you make will approximate reality.
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With respect to creative thinking, you should make a hypothesis at the
beginning of each investigation. You might have to redo your hypothesis
if it does not agree with the analysis.
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With respect to critical thinking, after comparing your hypothesis to the
analysis, you will be asked to make judgements as to the validity of your
hypothesis. As noted before, nature doesn't have to fit our ideas about
how it works.
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With respect to communication, It is essential that scientists discuss
their investigations with others who are working on the same investigation.
You must discuss your hypothesis, procedure, data and conclusions with
others so that they may evaluate them.
Also, use a word processor if possible to describe your investigations.
It doesn't do any good if someone can't read your report because sloppiness
or misspellings.
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