Chapter 1.1 - What Is Science?

In chapter 1.1 the main idea about what science actually is. literally science is an organized way of gathering information about the natural world. the book is trying to get us to think of science in a different way. Most of us think of science as a bunch of facts that were thrown together and never change, when actually science is always changing finding new ways to explore things.

There are a few main features of Science . One is that science only deals with the natural world. it does not go into supernatural phenomenon's or conspiracy's. two, scientist collect and organize data in a way in which is easiest to understand. Three, science only deals with evidence not beliefs.

Science is not something that only scientist participate in. you probably engage in science everyday without knowing it. science can be done through many ways. there is not one single way to go about conducting a science experiment but there is one frequently used method and it is called methodology. Methodology is a process in which you first observe and ask questions, then make inferences (which basically means to make an educated guess based on the evidence) and then test your theory's and make a conclusion.

I am not going to go much into detail about independent and dependent variables and qualitative and quantitative data since we have discussed those in class. one thing that the book does go into detail about is drawing conclusion. Conclusion is the last step in any theory or idea that you are testing, and it normally takes many tests and hypothosies before you can come to a conclusion.

Monday 8.30.10

Sooo what did we do on Monday?? First, we started off by going into our Unit Packet (UP 10) and looked at some data tables. We were then asked if we knew which data table belonged to which graph. For example, when comparing items during a certain experiment or even when there are specific ideas it is a good way to interpret selected information in a bar graph.

We then proceeded to move on with our experiment of the day. On Friday, we were all asked to bring in leaves for the experiment called Rip-O-Meter. During this lab we were all gathered into groups that were assigned. Then, we gathered all our materials together. This included a paper clip, pennies, leaves (some from each of your partners) and a paper cup.

Each member of the group was assigned to do a section of the Rip-O-Meter lab worksheets (UP- 27-29). As we kept on testing different leaves we all wrote down the results. When everyone was done experimenting we cleaned up.

Note: The results along with procedure, materials, question, etc. will have to be typed on a Google document during class tomorrow (Tuesday) by putting everyone's findings on one paper.

Homework for today was to read and note section 1.1

Friday 8.27.10

During class on Friday, we started off going over homework for the pages in the Unit Packet, 19-21. We discussed the definitions of a Control Group, Dependent/Independent Variable, and Quantitative/Qualitative data. To fully understand these definitions, we did practice labs in class, which were all very fun.

In class, we tried an experiment where we would observe what would happen if you poured Lentil Beans in to Seltzer. Can you guess what would happen? The beans would float on top of the surface of the seltzer, but only because of the carbonated bubbles attaching to the beans and pulling them up. After a few minutes, the beans would float down. We practiced writing hypotheses for these experiments, like “If you poured Lentil Beans into a cup of Seltzer, then the beans will not float.” The experiment was very intuitive, as nobody except for Mr. Paek actually knew whether the beans would float entirely or not.

Another experiment we tried was a more data-based experiment. We searched for the best time you should put Easy-Mac into a microwave for. This exercise was to enhance our identification of Qualitative or Quantitative data. Our hypothesis for this experiment was, “If you put Easy-Mac into a microwave for 2:25, then you will get a perfect cup of Easy-Mac.”

All of the experiments we did in class can be found in the Unit Packet on pgs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 13, and 15. All of the information on our vocabulary for the lesson can be found on pg. 9, which I would strongly recommend reading. The homework due on Monday, the 30th, is to finish the pre-lab on pgs. 23, 24, 25, and half of 26. Also, be sure to bring in some leaves in a Zip-Loc bag also for the experiment on Monday.

STS 8 Texting

We will be creating our own class version of the textbook.  I am hoping this will help you immensely.  Again this is for you, written by you.

Each time a reading is assigned, a texter will be assigned to summarize the section of reading assigned.  It will be your job to explain this section as well as you possibly can so that the whole class can read your summary and feel as though they understand the main points of the section.  Feel free to include any visuals that would help bring clarity and understanding you the section.

On My Mind

Post whatever you want here that relates to something in class.  Have a good story that relates to the  disease unit? Write it here.  Don't understand something?  Blog it here... hopefully a fellow classmate can help you out. 

Anything and everything that relates to p8sts2010, here's a place to write whatever you want that's... on your mind.

Googled

Copied in it's entirety from Seth Godin's blog.

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A friend advertised on Craigslist for a housekeeper. Three interesting resumes came to the top. She googled each person's name.

The first search turned up a MySpace page. There was a picture of the applicant, drinking beer from a funnel. Under hobbies, the first entry was, "binge drinking."

The second search turned up a personal blog (a good one, actually). The most recent entry said something like, "I am applying for some menial jobs that are below me, and I'm annoyed by it. I'll certainly quit the minute I sell a few paintings."

And the third? There were only six matches, and the sixth was from the local police department, indicating that the applicant had been arrested for shoplifting two years earlier.

Three for three.

Google never forgets.

Of course, you don't have to be a drunk, a thief or a bitter failure for this to backfire. Everything you do now ends up in your permanent record. The best plan is to overload Google with a long tail of good stuff and to always act as if you're on Candid Camera, because you are.

Digital Ethics

Much of what is written here is from a teacher experienced with using the web as a forum for us to share our learnings and reflections.  Darren Kuropatwa writes, "Blogging is a very public activity. Anything that gets posted on the internet stays there. Forever. Deleting a post simply removes it from the blog it was posted to. Copies of the post may exist scattered all over the internet. I have come across posts from my students on blogs as far away as Sweden! That is why we are being so careful to respect your privacy and using first names only. We do not use pictures of ourselves. If you really want a graphic image associated with your posting use an avatar -- a picture of something that represents you but IS NOT of you."


Reflect as you watch this.




Two teachers in the U.S.A. worked with their classes to come up with a list of guidelines for student bloggers.

One of them, Bud Hunt, has these suggestions, among others:

1. Students using blogs are expected to treat blogspaces as classroom spaces. Speech that is inappropriate for class is not appropriate for our blog. While we encourage you to engage in debate and conversation with other bloggers, we also expect that you will conduct yourself in a manner reflective of a representative of this school.
2. Never EVER EVER give out or record personal information on our blog. Our blog exists as a public space on the Internet. Don’t share anything that you don’t want the world to know. For your safety, be careful what you say, too. Don’t give out your phone number or home address. This is particularly important to remember if you have a personal online journal or blog elsewhere.
3. Again, your blog is a public space. And if you put it on the Internet, odds are really good that it will stay on the Internet. Always. That means ten years from now when you are looking for a job, it might be possible for an employer to discover some really hateful and immature things you said when you were younger and more prone to foolish things. Be sure that anything you write you are proud of. It can come back to haunt you if you don’t.
4. Never link to something you haven’t read. While it isn’t your job to police the Internet, when you link to something, you should make sure it is something that you really want to be associated with. If a link contains material that might be creepy or make some people uncomfortable, you should probably try a different source.

Thoughts on the videos or on these guidelines? Any other guidelines you'd like to add?

Scribe Post Guidelines

Scribeposts are meant to be a daily summary of what was learned in class today.  It will be written by you, for you and your classmates.   You will only have to write 3-4 of these per SEMESTER.  Please do yours the best that you can.  Your class and others are depending on you and will appreciate it.

A few guidelines.

1.  Create a summary of what you learned in class.  Use any pictures, graphs, worksheets, UP pages and/or any other resources that will enhance your post.
2. Include any thoughts and personal reflections connecting the learning to what you already know or personal experiences.
3.  Must have 3 labels.  Your name (first name and last initial or an alias only!),  scribepost, and unit name.

Welcome to Period 8 STS Bio!

Period 8, welcome to our blog!  This is going to be a site by you and for you.  It'll be a place to share your knowledge with fellow classmates, to reflect on what you've learned, and to learn concepts that you may have missed in class.  We'll talk more about the details later.

Just remember, you must add at least 3 labels to every post.

1. Your blog name
2. Either scribepost, texter, onmymind
3. Unit the post is about