My Notes
Categories
Class activity:
An introduction to research, both laboratory and scientific literature.
Before Class: Read the essay by Martin Schwartz entitled “The importance of stupidity in scientific research”, Journal of Cell Science, 2008, 1771. http://jcs.biologists.org/content/121/11/1771.full.pdf
Introductory Class Discussion:
Explain examples of instances while learning science in high school that you or someone else (NO names please) have encountered difficulties with scientific concepts or solving scientific problems encountered in lab or on homework and exams.
Explain examples of instances while learning science in college that you or someone else (NO names please) have encountered difficulties with scientific concepts or solving scientific problems encountered in lab or on homework and exams.
Describe differences in scientific learning from high school to college.
In class: Work in groups of 3-4.
Discuss your thoughts on the phrase “productively stupid”. Discuss how learning is achieved in science. How are discoveries made?
On the whiteboards diagram your group’s thoughts about the process of learning science.
Class Discussion after groupwork.
Homework reflection: How do you envision yourself as “productively stupid” as you work toward completion of your undergraduate degree and as you move into your next phase of life after undergraduate school?
The student will be able to articulate the process of learning science.
This is a good paper for students to discuss and think about the process of learning science before research.
Evaluation
Student Homework Reflection
Homework reflection: How do you envision yourself as “productively stupid” as you work toward completion of your undergraduate degree and as you move into your next phase of life after undergraduate school?
Comments
I have done this activity with students before they begin either literature research or a undergraduate research project. It works well.