Course Identification
General module: History and philosophy of science in science teaching
Lecturers and Teaching Assistants
Dr. Boaz Miller
Course Schedule and Location
Thursday, 15:00 - 16:30, WSoS, Rm B
02/11/2017
Field of Study, Course Type and Credit Points
Science Teaching (non thesis MSc Track): Lecture; Obligatory; 2.00 points
Restrictions
For students in the Rothschild-Weizmann program only
Attendance and participation
Required in at least 80% of the lectures
Estimated Weekly Independent Workload (in hours)
Syllabus
The course will explore historical and philosophical aspects of the nature of science and their application in science teaching:
- Are scientific concepts "real" or are they cognitive and social entities?
- How do we know things (epistemology)?
- The philosophical foundations of varieties of constructivism.
- The progress of science: Popper's falsification and Kuhn's paradigms.
- Should history and philosophy of science be taught as part of the study of science?
- The nature of mathematics: realism, formalism, intuitionism.
- Analysis of historical examples from a philosophical viewpoint (Einstein, Wegener, Dalton, Pauling, etc.).
- Is science coming to an end?
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course students should be able to:
- Describe and analyze the main issues in the philosophy of science.
- Understand the philosophical basis of educational theories.
- Argue for or against the inclusion of the history and philosophy of science in science teaching.
- Present historical case studies exemplifying the nature of science.
Reading List
- M. Ben-Ari. Just a Theory: Exploring the Nature of Science.
- A.F. Chalmers. What is This Thing Called Science?
- M.R. Matthews. Science Teaching: The Role of History and Philosophy of Science.