Re: A. Einstein and science-fairs

[Lois Breur Krause <krause@CLEMSON.EDU>]

 I've seen projects that ask something like "which
> > paper towel will absorb more" and then the kid makes a random guess at one,
> > and calls it an hypothesis. I consider these non-science and pass them by
> > with an irritation for the teacher who hasn't a clue what "hypothesis" is
> > supposed to mean.
>
> Sounds like a hypothesis to me. It is trivial, of course, but then
> so is the whole "scientific method" business.
>
> Newton said it best - "Hypotheses non fingo." Few would argue that
> Newton didn't know how to do science.


my objection is to the "random guess" with no thinking about which could be
expected to absorb more with some basis for the belief. An hypothesis, if
indeed one is to be used, should be "there is no difference in absorbancy
of the two (or more) brands of paper towels."  And on these projects I have
yet to see one decently done.
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Dr. Lois Breur Krause
Department of Geological Sciences
442 Brackett Hall
Clemson University
Clemson SC  29634

teaching chemistry, physics, astronomy and geology to elementary education
majors.

How We Learn and Why We Don't: Student Survival Guide,
available from International Thompson Publishing, ISBN 0324-011970

http://home.earthlink.net/~breurkrause

krause@clemson.edu

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