Henry David Thoreau, Forest Succession & The Nature of Science: A Method for Curriculum Development

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Henry David Thoreau, Forest Succession & The Nature of Science: A Method for Curriculum Development
Language: English
Authors: Howe, Eric M.
Source: American Biology Teacher. Sep 2009 71(7):397-399.
Availability: National Association of Biology Teachers. 12030 Sunrise Valley Drive # 110, Reston, VA 20191. Tel: 800-406-0775; Tel: 703-264-9696; Fax: 703-264-7778; e-mail: publication@nabt.org; Web site: http://www.nabt.org/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Physical Description: PDF
Page Count: 3
Publication Date: 2009
Intended Audience: Teachers
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Descriptive
Descriptors: Curriculum Development, Science History, Scientific Principles, Science Instruction, Teaching Methods, National Standards, Science Education, Forestry, Ecology, Scientific Concepts
ISSN: 0002-7685
Abstract: A main reason for using the history of science in classroom instruction is its utility in promoting students' understanding of the nature of science (NOS). As indicated in such documents as the "National Science Education Standards," it is important to help students develop their understanding of NOS so that they will become more critical consumers of the very scientific knowledge that increasingly impacts their daily lives. Using history of science in instruction is a potential contextual approach for students to explicitly and reflectively learn NOS tenets, and science education literature contains numerous examples of its use in this regard. This article provides a method for teachers who intend to use one or more episodes from the history of science to help their students explicitly and reflectively learn more informed NOS conceptions. An example of this approach is given using the work of Henry David Thoreau and introductory concepts of ecological forest succession. (Contains 1 table.)
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2009
Access URL: https://www.nabt.org/websites/institution/index.php?p=26
Accession Number: EJ863748
Database: ERIC
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Description
Abstract:A main reason for using the history of science in classroom instruction is its utility in promoting students' understanding of the nature of science (NOS). As indicated in such documents as the "National Science Education Standards," it is important to help students develop their understanding of NOS so that they will become more critical consumers of the very scientific knowledge that increasingly impacts their daily lives. Using history of science in instruction is a potential contextual approach for students to explicitly and reflectively learn NOS tenets, and science education literature contains numerous examples of its use in this regard. This article provides a method for teachers who intend to use one or more episodes from the history of science to help their students explicitly and reflectively learn more informed NOS conceptions. An example of this approach is given using the work of Henry David Thoreau and introductory concepts of ecological forest succession. (Contains 1 table.)
ISSN:0002-7685