Course Identification

General module: History and philosophy of science in science teaching
20196221

Lecturers and Teaching Assistants

Prof. Joseph Nussbaum
N/A

Course Schedule and Location

2019
First Semester
Thursday, 15:00 - 17:00, San Martin, seminar room
08/11/2018

Field of Study, Course Type and Credit Points

Science Teaching (non thesis MSc Track): Lecture; Obligatory; 2.00 points

Comments

For 1st year students

Prerequisites

No

Restrictions

60
For students in the Rothschild-Weizmann program only

Language of Instruction

Hebrew

Attendance and participation

Required in at least 80% of the lectures

Grade Type

Numerical (out of 100)

Grade Breakdown (in %)

10%
20%
70%

Evaluation Type

Examination

Scheduled date 1

12/02/2019
WSoS, Rm C
1100-1300
N/A

Scheduled date 2

12/03/2019
WSoS, Rm A
1000-1200
N/A

Estimated Weekly Independent Workload (in hours)

3

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:

  1. Describe and analyze the main issues in the philosophy of science.
  2. Understand the philosophical basis of educational theories.
  3. Argue for or against the inclusion of the history and philosophy of science in science teaching.
  4. 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.

 

Website

N/A