Active learning ideas
The Scientific Method and Falsification explores the logic behind how we 'know' things in the natural sciences. Students move beyond the simplified 'observation-hypothesis-experiment' model to look at the philosophy of science. We focus on Karl Popper's falsificationism, the idea that science progresses by disproving theories rather than proving them, and Thomas Kuhn's paradigm shifts. This is a core component of the MOE KI Syllabus for Knowledge in the Natural Sciences, requiring students to evaluate the reliability and progress of scientific inquiry.
Activity 01
Groups are given a sealed box with an object inside. They must propose theories about its contents and design tests to *falsify* their own theories, rather than prove them, documenting their process on a shared board.
What distinguishes science from pseudoscience?
Activity 02
Divide the class into two teams representing Popper (evolutionary progress) and Kuhn (revolutionary shifts). They must argue which model better explains a major scientific discovery, like the transition from Newtonian to Einsteinian physics.
How do scientific paradigms shift?
Activity 03
Provide students with a list of claims (e.g., astrology, climate change, homeopathy). Students use Popper's falsifiability criterion to categorize them individually, then pair up to defend their choices based on whether the claims can be disproven.
Is scientific knowledge purely objective?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
A scientific 'theory' is just a guess.
In everyday language, 'theory' means a hunch, but in science, it is a well-substantiated explanation. Active modeling of the scientific process helps students see the rigorous testing and evidence required to elevate a hypothesis to a theory.
Science proves things to be 100% true.
Students often view science as absolute. By engaging in falsification activities, they learn that science is 'provisional', it is the best explanation we have *so far* until it is disproven or refined.
Methods used in this brief
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Investigate the nature of mathematical knowledge and its relationship to the physical world. Discuss the certainty and a priori nature of formal logic.
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