League for Innovation STEM Tech presentation, Indianapolis

1. Bold fusion: The scientific method marries critical thought 1 KA Watson, Coastline CC

2. Bold fusion…. Scientific thinking Critical thinking Thinking! 2 KA Watson, Coastline CC

3. A bold fusion of thought processes Scientific thinking makes one… Evaluate/test theories of cause & effect Discern correlation/causation in hypotheses Use an empirical process Make claims that are testable KA Watson, Coastline CC 3

4. A bold fusion of thought processes Critical thinking makes one… Identify a problem Devise a supposition Verify the applicability of a supposition Interpret, re-interpret, & analyze solutions Select, optimize, & implement best solutions KA Watson, Coastline CC 4

5. Bold fusion: TheScientific Method What? Etymologicallyscientia Who has used it? Egyptians, Greeks, Islamists, Occidentals Why? To analyze selves & environs How used, in exact sciences and… 5 KA Watson, Coastline CC

6. Bold fusion: Scientific Method Commonly cited steps Formulate a question Do research Construct a hypothesis Test the hypothesis Analyze the test results Hone the hypothesis Communicate the findings KA Watson, Coastline CC 6

7. Bold fusion: Critical thinking What? - ability & disposition to improve thinking - systematic intellectual self-assessment Who uses it? - parents, citizens, friends, lovers, consumers Why? - to evaluate, discern subjective & objective How used, in human sciences and…. KA Watson, Coastline CC 7

8. Bold! Activities defining critical thought (CT) Reichenbach’s: Analyze, integrate, evaluate Guffy’s: Pinpoint the problem Learn more, seek possible causes Evaluate the evidence Consider alternative solutions & implications Choose & implement a solution KA Watson, Coastline CC 8

9. Bold fusion A six-step plan to marry SM & CT everywhere: Consistency Observability Naturalness Predictability Replicability Tentativity 9 KA Watson, Coastline CC

10. Bold fusion: Consistency …in scientific thought, the scientific method …in STEM …in critical thinking Question: How can/do we reconcile logical coherence, recognizability, and novelty? 10 KA Watson, Coastline CC

11. Bold fusion: Observability …in “scientific thought”, scientific method …in STEM …in critical thinking Question: How do we notice what, at once collecting the catalysts & then creating? 11 KA Watson, Coastline CC

12. Bold fusion: Naturalness …in scientific thought, scientific method …in STEM …in critical thinking Question: How do we define what is “natural”? How do we recognize “naturalness”? 12 KA Watson, Coastline CC

13. Bold fusion: Predictability …in scientific thought, scientific method …in STEM …in critical thinking Question: Can it be determined what will happen next? Should this be possible? 13 KA Watson, Coastline CC

14. Bold fusion: Replicability …in scientific thought, scientific method …in STEM …in critical thinking Question: Given the same environment, circumstances, experimental conditions, will others arrive at the same conclusions? 14 KA Watson, Coastline CC

15. Bold fusion: Tentativity …in scientific thought, the scientific method …in STEM …in critical thinking Question: how are tenacity and tentativity both to be accommodated? 15 KA Watson, Coastline CC

16. Critical scientific thought: 6-way fusion Get the attitude, the ethic of the critical thinker Practice reasoning & decision-making Train in cross-disciplinary applications Become self-aware & reflective Test ideas & retain only the distilled ones Never stop asking questions KA Watson, Coastline CC 16