| Lesson
1 Components |
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| I. Presentation 1: Bias in Science | View description | Download files |
| II. Activity 1: Smoking Bias | View description | Download files |
| III. Homework 1: Identifying Bias - Bald Eagles and DDT | View description | Download files |
| I. Presentation 1: Bias in Science |  |
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| Description | ||
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Reviews and corrects some common misconceptions about science. | |
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Introduces concept that science can be done poorly. Bias can be introduced into research through sample selection and measurement techniques and this can lead to inaccurate results. | |
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Describes methods scientists use to eliminate or at least decrease bias in their investigations. | |
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Outlines tools students can use to identify potential sources of bias in research. | |
| Goals | ||
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Students understand that science can be done poorly and that good science requires extreme care in developing an experimental design that will minimize bias. | |
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Students learn how bias can be introduced into scientific experiments and steps the scientific community takes to minimize bias. | |
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Students learn ways to identify potential bias when presented with scientific information. | |
| Download Files for Presentation 1 | ||
| • | “TeacherManual1” ( if not downloaded previously) | |
| • | “Presentation 1” | |
| • | “Lesson1_WB” | |
| • | “Lesson1_WB_KEY” | |
| II. Activity 1: Smoking Bias | |
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| Description | ||
| • | Students evaluate the design of several experiments designed to determine the rate of smoking among high school students and discuss possible sources of bias. | |
| • | Students devise their own experiment to determine the rate of smoking among high school students. | |
| Goals | ||
| • | Students gain a better appreciation for the way bias can be intentionally or unintentionally introduced through sample or measurement bias. | |
| • | Students develop critical thinking skills for evaluating scientific information. | |
| Download Files for Activity 1 | ||
| • | “TeacherManual1” (if not downloaded previously) | |
| • | “Activity1_Smoking” | |
| • | “Activity1_Smoking_KEY” | |
| III. Homework 1: Identifying Bias - Bald Eagles and DDT | |
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| Description | ||
| • | Students are put in the role of a reporter writing an article on DDT. Guided by the advice of a children’s science magazine reporter, Mariana Relos, students evaluate an article that claims DDT has no effect on bird reproduction and the response of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service scientist to the article. | |
| • | Students identify signs of bias and decide what they would report about DDT based on their evaluation of the different sources of information. | |
| Goals | ||
| • | Students review ways to identify potential bias in scientific information. | |
| • | Students practice identifying bias in different information sources. | |
| • | Students learn about the history of DDT use in the United States. | |
| Download Files for Homework 1 | ||
| • | “TeacherManual1” (if not downloaded previously) | |
| • | “Homework1_BiasDDT” | |
| • | “Homework1_BiasDDT_KEY” | |