Jonathan Osborne on Argumentation in Science Education: Towards a Critical (and More Engaging?) Science Education

Lecture | November 16 | 1-2 p.m. | Lawrence Hall of Science, Auditorium

Speaker: Jonathan Osborne, The Shriram Family Professorship in Science Education, Stanford University

Sponsor: The Lawrence Hall of Science All Hall Learning Committee

Being critical lies at the heart of science. Reading and evaluating papers, appraising competing theories, or designing experiments all require the act of disciplinary critique. Such acts are an essential element of the process of construction of new knowledge. This talk will argue that the singular focus in science education on the construction of knowledge is misplaced. The teaching of science requires a repertoire of instructional techniques that would assist students to engage in evaluating why the wrong answer is wrong as much as being able to justify why the right answer is right. This can only be achieved by a focus on the construction of arguments and counter arguments and reasoning in science. Drawing on my own work in this domain, the talk will explore how such a change might be achieved.

Event Contact: sdombkowski@berkeley.edu, 510-642-8718