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Authentic Science

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Encyclopedia of Science Education

Science is a way of thinking used to develop explanations of natural phenomena using evidence and logic. Authentic science is essentially the same thing, the term only having been coined to distinguish and separate the scientific ways of thinking from classroom science activities that do not, in fact, reflect the spirit and behavior of science. It is argued that traditional experiences in many classrooms charged with teaching about the science disciplines are outdated, in that they do not facilitate the learner in learning to think and behave in the manner of actual scientists. Authentic science is a variation of inquiry teaching that aligns closely with how scientists do their work and differs from traditional school science laboratory exercises (commonly called “laboratories” in the USA). Many traditional laboratory experiences are static and contrived, leading the student to a predetermined “correct” result, often known to the student. This is not to say such educational activities...

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References

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Correspondence to Barbara Crawford .

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© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Crawford, B. (2015). Authentic Science. In: Gunstone, R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Science Education. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2150-0_144

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2150-0_144

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