Date of Award
Fall 2019
Document Type
Thesis Restricted
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Transformative Education and Social Change
Abstract
The purpose of this action research project is to develop a program that will improve the critical reasoning skills of students through their science curriculum. The focus will be on using the scientific method as a tool to analyze works not necessarily connected to science class. In order to develop this program a study must be done to determine why and how students are lacking certain reasoning skills and what societal structures are in place to prevent or dissuade students from practicing these skills. I will make the case that students do not have the opportunity to learn or practice reasoning in an authentic way and teachers are not incentivized to teach reasoning skills. Therefore, the program is designed for a science teacher to implement within their class, as part of an existing unit, to use their student’s knowledge of the scientific method to analyze current events and make informed, evidence-based opinions about their world. Thus accomplishing the goal of producing better citizens who can critically analyze their world.
Recommended Citation
Dougherty, Kevin, "APPLICATIONS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD IN TEACHING CRITICAL REASONING SKILLS IN HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE CLASSROOMS" (2019). West Chester University Master’s Theses. 169.
https://digitalcommons.wcupa.edu/all_theses/169