Content+Research

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Concerns:  1. Pseudoscience  2. Bad Science claims  3. Privacy concerns while having the students use technology  Suggestions:  1. Teach the students to check sources of studies  2. Teach students to check "counter" sources  3. Teach students proper net etiquette  Websites:


 * 1) [|__http://www.junkscience.com/__] - This web site provided "counter points" to science by is supported by various industries that have a stake in the points this site is making.
 * 2) [|__http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=901381__]  - Podcast about debunking pseudoscience
 * 3) [|__http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Steven_J._Milloy__] - History on Steven J. Milloy who runs Junk Science
 * 4) [|__http://www.astrosociety.org/education/resources/pseudobib.html__] - List of current top pseudosciences
 * 5) [|__http://www.onguardonline.gov/__] - Government's resource for protecting yourself on line.
 * 6) [|__http://www.badscience.net/__] - A blog focusing on how reports can be used to push an agenda.

While listening to a podcast by science teachers, one of the teachers said they had a class blog that the students maintained. That sounded like a good idea but it opens up the fact that the students would be posting onto the internet for a class assignment. It was really put pressure on me to make sure that they are following best practices for privacy on the internet.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Another problem is pseudoscience. Snake oil salesmen have been around a long time and the internet has given them a larger audience. This actually gives a good teaching opportunity to have students critically evaluate claims.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Science research has been used to further many goals in the past. People need to learn to evaluate true scientific research to understand if the conclusions are correct. This is different than flat out bogus claims in that it has reproducible data. It seems that certain groups can produce test results that support their claims. Students need to understand that the sample size can skew results and look for leaps from data to conclusions not supported by the data. This could be tied in with experiments in class.