Scientific Methods: Using the movie "Awakenings" to dispel common misconceptions about the scientific method.

This activity is designed for students to observe and identify the parts of scientific methods being used by the central character in the movie "Awakenings," analyze their results and draw conclusions about how scientific methods are used by scientists. It also allows them to think about some of the ethical questions raised during the movie.

At the end of this activity, students should be able to explain why "The Scientific Method" is an incomplete description of what scientists actually use during their research. Based on their own data, they should come to realize that "Observations" are a key component of any scientific activity.

This movie is appropriate for grades 9-12. I have used this activity in both public and private schools, so it can be used under a variety of institutional settings. You need to help students define the parts of the scientific methods prior to showing the movie. Depending on whether you intend on using the opinion worksheet or not, this activity can be done in 1-3, 45 minute class periods. I tend to skip over a bit of the movie near the end of the movie to fit into that time frame, and give my students the weekend to complete the opinion sheet.

I do this activity near the beginning of the school year and we start out reading the relevant parts of the textbook regarding the parts of the scientific method and completing the first column of the Awakenings Notes - Sci Methods worksheet. This is typically an overnight homework assignment with a quick overview to complete the example section the following day. I then hand out the Awakenings worksheet and explain how they will keep "score" during the movie. After telling my students that I will tell them when to start tallying Dr. Sayer applying the parts of the scientific method, I start the movie. Initially, I will identify the first 20 or so instances where Dr. Sayer using the parts of the scientific methods, so they get a sense of how often they will be tallying during this movie. During the last five minutes of the period, I circulate around the room to check on the progress and to stamp each students worksheet. I remind them to bring the worksheet back the following day and tell them that we will pick up the movie where we left off. I then make sure to write down how far we got in the movie.

The next couple of days, I repeat the above procedure, except I don't identify instances where Dr. Sayer is using the parts of the scientific methods. Depending on how much actual time we have, I will skip parts of the movie, and still accomplish the overall goal of the lesson. Over the years I've developed a sense of which parts can be "cut out" without loosing the general ideas of the movie. Once the movie is done, I give my students some time to answer the questions at the end of the Awakenings worksheet and then collect them. This is usually a Friday, so they get the week-end to complete the Awakenings Opinion worksheet for the following Monday. While this last worksheet in not essential for seeing that there is no single scientific method, I feel it's good for students to start thinking about ethical considerations within this movie and life in general.

After collecting their Awakening Opinion Sheets, I return their graded Awakenings worksheets and we discuss the results. While this activity does alter some student's perception of what scientists actually do, the concept of a single, structured scientific method is so engrained in their minds that some will still cling to that belief. 01 - Awakenings Notes - Sci Methods (Microsoft Word 32kB Aug3 09) 02 - Awakenings Worksheet (Microsoft Word 40kB Aug3 09) 03 - Awakenings Opinion Worksheet (Microsoft Word 24kB Aug3 09)

Students generally enjoy this movie, and some even rent it to watch it on their own time. The movie "Awakenings" is rated PG-13, both for the subject matter of the movie, and the two swear words used during the movie. The lack of a "... happily ever after..." ending to the movie, which is based on actual events may make this a difficult movie for younger, less mature students to handle. You should also preview the movie in deciding on how to deal with Nurse Beth saying, "It's a f****** miracle." I always say something like, "Well at least I know you're paying attention to the movie," to diffuse that moment. Finally, I identify the first 20 or so instances where Dr Sayer using the parts of the scientific method, so they get a sense of how often they will be tallying during this movie.

I check off their tally sheets at the bottom for near the end of each period, to keep students on task. After collecting and recording the tally sheet, we discuss their conclusions and after reading their opinion worksheet, I give them a grade on it. The final assessment would come in the Unit Test at the end of the overall unit.

9.1.1.2.1 to 9.1.1.2.8: The Nature of Science and Engineering - The Practice of Science