Initial Publication Date: November 25, 2020

A Syllabus for the Scientific Process in a Changing World

Jordan Axelson, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Michelle Kovarik, Trinity College, Jeff Moore, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Summary

Our rapidly changing world faces significant, multi-faceted problems at the nexus of technology and society. The response to these socioscientific issues will impact the future of the human condition. The scientific process has a role to play in finding timely, effective, and evidence-based solutions. This course showcases science as a dynamic and iterative process that includes collecting and connecting observations, making hypotheses based on the current understanding, and constructing models that are revised as new knowledge is acquired. It emphasizes the role of dialogue and communication in shaping responses to socioscientific issues.

There are two phases to the course. An initial case study will exemplify how the scientific process played out in a historical context. In the second phase, students will produce a final report about a contemporary socioscientific issue, present their results to the class, and generate a "publishable" product.

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Course Format:
Lecture, Discussion, Workshops, Student Presentations, etc.

Course Size:
15-30

Context for Use

This class is targeted toward sophomore, junior, and senior undergraduate students. Students from all majors are encouraged to enroll. Students will examine the context of multi-faceted problems through different lenses; hence, a diverse student pool adds significant value to the class. Students will contribute their varied experiences and expertise, enriching the learning environment through a team-oriented approach.

Long term we intend for this course to serve as a foundational or capstone course in a series toward a Certificate in Science Literacy.

Course Design and Goals

Course Design and Philosophy

Case studies of historical and contemporary issues will be the heart of the course. The specific case studies can be chosen based on the expertise of the instructor and students' interest.

For the initial historical example, students will be tasked with identifying how the topic was initially understood, what new information was uncovered, and how new results changed the understanding of scientists and the perspectives of non-scientists (ex. politicians, general public, industry, etc.). Students will analyze data sets and examine how the science was presented through different lenses (primary vs. secondary sources, scientist vs. non-scientist, health professional vs. politician, etc.).

In the second part of the course, interdisciplinary teams of students will select a contemporary issue and investigate how the relevant science is still developing. Using the initial case study as an example, they will compile their own case study into a final report, presentation, and "publishable" product.

Course Goals

The goals of this course are to teach the next generation of professionals to apply scientific and moral reasoning to real-world situations. Learners will gain perspectives on the dynamic interactions between science and society; on the priorities of the disparate stakeholders involved in a socioscientific problem; and on strengths and limitations of the scientific process itself.

After completing the course, students will be able to:

Foundational Knowledge Learning Outcomes

F1. Demonstrate that science is a dynamic and iterative process that includes collecting observational data, making hypotheses based on the most current working model or framework, revising and updating understanding and conclusions based on validating or refuting hypotheses, and give examples in which setbacks or "failures" are shown to advance understanding and have value in the process of refinement to advance knowledge.

F2. Identify patterns, analyze data to find trends, and apply models.

F3. Compare and contrast primary literature to secondary sources, such as newspapers, news, commercials and advertisements, social media, radio, and podcasts.

Meta Knowledge Learning Outcomes

M1. Identify and reflect on the limitations and ambiguity of the current model, and how new information or new data may require refinement or update of the model.

M2.Apply lessons learned from historical case studies to contemporary problems.

M3.Communicate with different audiences (ex. scientific or expert vs. layperson) while balancing accuracy with clarity.

M4.Identify gaps in knowledge or understanding and propose questions or make plans to address them.

M5.Work in teams consisting of individuals of different expertise.

Humanistic Learning Outcomes

H1.Identify competing factors that shape the outcome, progress, guidance, and intervention of science. Identify the influence and interplay between science, policy, economics, special interest groups, and society.

H2. Identify the stakeholders surrounding a problem and empathize with their experiences and the impact of various outcomes they could encounter.

Assessment

Students will be assessed based on two main projects, an individual journal and a team project.

For the initial case study, students will keep a journal where they respond to prompts similar to those shown below. The letter designators correspond to the foundational (F), meta (M), and humanistic (H) learning objectives listed above. Student journals submissions will be graded on a rubric that evaluates if a students has completed all of the assigned reading or activities related to a specific entry, has considered and identified connections between readings and activities, and has related new information to past discussions.

Journal Entry 1
(F1) Identify a disruptive change. What is the origin of the problem? When was the problem identified? What took place that triggered events? What was the widespread understanding and perception of the topic (scientific community vs. general populace) at the beginning of the period of study?
Journal Entry 2
(F1, F2, M1) Consider *specific reference, figure, text* in a primary source. What trends can you identify? What conclusions can you make based on this data set? What are the limitations and the degree of certainty in the conclusions made from this information at that time?
Journal Entry 3
(F3, H1) Compare and contrast primary and secondary sources such as journal articles, newspapers, news, social media, radio, or podcasts. What information is the same? What is different? What is missing? How do these sources change or influence public perception?
Journal Entry 4
(F1) Reflect on the progression of the case study and develop a timeline to show how knowledge evolved. What setbacks or failures occurred? What value was gained from these setbacks or failures? How was the original perception or understanding revised?
Journal Entry 5
(H2) Identify the stakeholders surrounding a problem and their impact, perspective, experience, and influence.
Who is most affected by the problem? Who has something to gain by finding a solution?
Identify at least one stakeholder who has a different perspective, opinion, or motivation about the topic than you. Why do they hold that perspective, opinion, or motivation? What about their personal experience might influence them?
Journal Entry 6
(M3, M4) How do error and uncertainty complicate the use of scientific data in the formation of public policy? How should scientists present their work to maintain public confidence while being honest about the limits of current knowledge?
Journal Entry 7
(H1) Identify the competing factors that shape the progress, outcomes, and intervention of science. Give examples of the interplay between science, policy, economics, special interest groups, and society.
Journal Entry 8
(M4, F1) Identify gaps in current knowledge or understanding. How is this issue still relevant?
Journal Entry 9
(M2) Reflect on our work so far. What have you learned in examining this historical case that will inform your work on a contemporary example of the interactions between science and society?

For the team report on their contemporary case study, students will encounter prompts previously seen during the historical case study as well as prompts like the ones listed below:

(M2) Which skills or lessons learned from the historical case study were you able to apply to your team's inquiry? What was the context in which they were applied?
(M3, H3) Regarding your final product, who is your audience? How does your audience shape your message? What do you need to take into consideration when planning your project or presentation to best adapt it to your audience?
(M5) In what ways has your team functioned effectively? How has each team member contributed using their own unique expertise? In what ways has your team not functioned effectively? What changes will you make to your team's process to improve through the end of the project?

Example Syllabus

The model syllabus is designed around a specific historical case study (leaded gasoline) and potential contemporary cases for students in the area of chemistry. Other faculty could apply this framework with case studies in their own areas of expertise.

Syllabus for The Scientific Process in a Changing World.pdf (Acrobat (PDF) 94kB Oct8 20)

Other historical case studies that could be used to anchor the course could include: smoking, thalidomide, ozone, John Snow & cholera (The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson), DDT, acceptance of germ theory (The Gospel of Germs by Nancy Tomes). For additional inspiration see The National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science.

Contemporary topics that student teams could choose might include: single use plastics, high fructose corn syrup, climate, glyphos, GMOs, climate change, ethics of personalized medicine, artificial intelligence, traveling to Mars.

The final "publishable" products will allow teams to share their new knowledge with a wider audience. These final products can take many forms, though some possible forms could include a letter to an elected official, a letter to a special interest group or organization, an informational brochure or poster, a video, a children's book, or outreach or volunteering event.