Science Essentials

Ask Dr. Rhonda – Critical Thinking Skills

I have been speaking at the ACSI convention the past 2 days in Galveston, Texas. I thought I would post a question asked by a teacher attending the conference.

How do I begin to teach creation science to Advanced Placement Biology students?

This is a great question!  I would say the first place to start is with an understanding of the National Science Education Standards. According to the NSES, the standards recommend the use of history in school science programs to clarify different aspects of scientific inquiry, the human aspects of science, and the role that science has played in the development of various cultures.

Within the framework of science, the process of helping your students develop critical thinking skills is important as well. The process of critical thinking involves the careful acquisition and interpretation of information and the use of it to reach a well justified conclusion.

Therefore, begin with the basics, but move toward the interpretation of various information. Teach your students the definition of science (observable, testable, repeatable, falsifiable), teach them the different types of science (operational, historical), and teach them to think through the process of science as they know it using critical thinking.