NS 100 Midterm Summer by Erica Smith

What is Science and how does it work?

ericasmith16 — 2024-06-07 23:25:06 UTC

Before taking NS 100, I believed science was a study of how all things work and their history. This is done through observation and testing. After taking this course, the materials confirmed my idea of science. For example, in Module 2 resources, the video "Life Begins" explains how we have followed history through scientific testing and different forms of science. The video also tells us that we have to continue to fill blank spots by collecting more evidence and refining theories. This course has left me intrigued and encouraged me to continue learning and investigating on my own for further knowledge and understanding.

ericasmith16 — 2024-06-07 23:25:06 UTC

I never thought about what it truly means to be alive. I knew the universe is full of living organisms and it all has a life cycle. Life begins with creation and ends with death. The "Life Begins" video explained the characteristics of life which are: it adapts to the environment, it has a metabolism that processes energy to keep life going, and it reproduces. What a life cycle looks like depends on the species. To be alive, we need things such as energy, water, oxygen, and a livable habitat to survive. I will appreciate life and use this information to teach my students.

ericasmith16 — 2024-06-07 23:25:06 UTC

Before NS 100, I could not tell you anything about the scientific method, scientific inquiry, or inquiry-based learning. After doing assignments for module 1, I learned that the scientific method and scientific inquiry are similar but different. Scientific Method follows a rigorous series of steps that must be followed in order. Scientific inquiry starts out with observation, just like the SM, but is not limited to a specific series of steps and allows various ways of exploring and flexibility. I also learned that inquiry-based learning involves prioritizing students' questions and ideas and also analyzes and focuses on answering an open question or problem. I will continue to learn more on these subjects and learn how to properly implement them in the classroom.

ericasmith16 — 2024-06-07 23:25:06 UTC

Starting this semester, I did not think of science. But after the videos and articles, it has reminded me that life itself is science! Science is always changing and has new discoveries all the time. There is always something new to learn. Sometimes new research will have different results and it changes what we know about the subject. This has encouraged me to continue learning and researching.

ericasmith16 — 2024-06-07 23:25:06 UTC

Currently, I am a Kindergarten Para and we have many science lessons. Once I begin my student teaching, I may land a spot in a science classroom. There, I can use the information we learned on inquiry-based learning and apply it to my students. I will continue to learn more about what inquiry-based teaching looks like and see how I can properly us it in the classroom.

ericasmith16 — 2024-06-07 23:25:06 UTC

I have always believed that tiny changes can have major effects. In science, this is seen all the time. For example, in the video "Natural Selection and the Rock Pocket Mouse", one microscopic mutation in the chemical letters that make up their gene turned their fur from a sandy brown to dark brown. This helped them blend in to their environment and increased their survival rate. To me this is just a reminder that a microscopic change can have a macroscopic effect.