Science ULR ~ Learning Outcomes
Describe the essential attributes of the scientific way of knowing and compare and contrast the scientific and popular meanings of "hypotheses" and "theories."
Selected Examples of Evidence
Criterion: Accuracy
Standard for Achieving the Outcome
Accuracy: The terms are always used correctly in selected evidence.
Use the scientific method of inquiry and standard scientific techniques to answer questions about physical, biological, or social processes.
Selected Examples of Evidence
Criteria: Appropriate, Complete, Accurate, Critical
Standards for Achieving the Outcome
Appropriate: Methods and techniques are consistently matched to the question and hypotheses. For example, dry weight is often a more appropriate measure of plant growth than height.
Complete: A thorough description of method or technique, clear representation of data, discussion, and interpretation of results.
Accurate: Mostly free from errors. Mostly correct use of terms.
Critical: Skeptical reflection. For example, questioning experimental design, data acquisition, data collection and analysis, sources of error. The conclusion logically follows from the data.
Explain how peer review contributes to the reliability of scientific knowledge.
Selected Examples of Evidence
Criteria: Accurate, Analytical, Critical
Standards for Achieving the Outcome
Accurate: Describes peer review process as it is practiced by the scientific community.
Analytical: Contrasts peer reviewed scientific process with other kinds of peer review processes.
Critical: Understand how the scientific peer review process supports the production of scientific knowledge.
Locate and use scientific information about one of those issues (outcome 2B) from five sources, including at least two peer-reviewed journals, and identify the bias and qualifications of each source.
Selected Examples of Evidence
Criteria: Relevant, Accurate, Critical
Standards for Achieving the Outcome
Relevant: Cited information directly relates to chosen issue.
Accurate: Correctlyidentifies the scientific findings as intended by the author/researcher.
Critical: Identifies bias, perspective, and qualifications of the source in each of these articles and supports claim with information from the article.
Explain at least five physical science concepts or principles and at least five life science concepts or principles.
Selected Examples of Evidence
Criteria: Accurate, Clear
Standards for Achieving the Outcome
Accurate: Explanations are nearly free from conceptual error.
Clear: Explanations are understandable to a peer.
Identify and integrate physical and life scientific facets of two contemporary controversial issues: one local (e.g. Salinas Valley) and one global.
Selected Examples of Evidence
Criteria: Accurate, Appropriate
Standards for Achieving the Outcome
Appropriate: Identifies relevant and significant scientific principles.
Accurate: Correctly describes the scientific principles and characterizes interactions between both physical and life science components.