Scientific method what comes to mind? Do we start thinking of some type of formal process that will answer all our scientific questions or problems? When I was in school many years ago, we were taught that scientists go through a series of steps to find a solution to a problem or find evidence to support or disprove a theory. It all seemed rather cold, and formal. Going back to school, school has taught me that science has undergone significant changes and has moved away from the rigidity of a fixed series of steps in what was formerly called the scientific method.
I think the best way to describe what helps me understand scientific method, is trying to shed some light on the uncertainties through step by step procedures, collecting and analyzing data. Both start with observations of the world around us. During those observations and some inconsistency, confusion, a question may arise. This will probably lead to more observing, reading or talking to others, or perhaps consulting an expert. We then might clarify the problem and intuit a hypothesis, than decide to gather some more data to shed some light on that hypothesis. Will this new data lead to more questions or more information gathering? So after we organize and analyze all our data and check it with what others and what they know. We may then talk it through with our buddies or maybe go back and collect more data, and the process continues.
In my research for the scientific methods of adult learners in our nation, I found the latest review on Adult learning and literacy was performed in June of 2003 by the NRS, all the numbers and data have not been publish yet. So I found this article that was written by the National ...
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... O., &Bell, B. (2000). Outcomes of participation in adult basic education: The importance of the learner's perspectives.
Cambridge, MA: National Center for the Study of Adult learning and Literacy.
Hohn, M. D. (1998a). Partnering for empowerment. Dissertation study.
Maslow, A.H. (1954). Motivation and personality. New York: Harper Collins.
McGregor, D. (1985). The human side of enterprise: 25th anniversary edition: New York: McGraw-Hill. (Original work published in 1960)
Morgan, G. (1997a). Images of organization. Thousand Oaks, CA. Sage.
The National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy (December, 12-2003): The Annual Review of the Adult Learning and Literacy: The Year 1999 in Review.
Retrieved from the World Wide Web at http://www.gse.harvard.edu/~ncsall/
...e level.” Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, v. 39, no. 6 (March 1996): 436-445. [E Journal]
Adult participation is shaped by access to program information; recruitment should be viewed as a multistep process of drawing people into programs rather than motivating them to sign up for a single course (Bond, Merrill, and Smith 1997). That process begins with promotional information to prompt participant contact; it continues with a prompt response to initial contacts, providing details by phone or print, and inviting potential participants to a local information session. Follow-up on initial contact is crucial; one study of adults who contacted literacy programs found that the most common reason for not enrolling was not getting a call back (Long 2001).
Scientists make progress by using the scientific method, a process of checking conclusions against nature. After observing something, a scientist tries to explain what has been seen. The explanation is called a hypothesis. There is always at least one alternative hypothesis. A part of nature is tested in a "controlled experiment" to see if the explanation matches reality. A controlled experiment is one in which all treatments are identical except that some are exposed to the hypothetical cause and some are not.
In order to build any solid structure, a good foundation is required. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, a foundation is “an underlying base or support, especially the whole substructure of a building, a body or ground upon which something is built” (www.m-w.com). Foundations must be durable to support the structure that is built above. For this reason, the Foundations of Adult Education course delves into various philosophical approaches to adult education and learning. Investigation of behavior theories helps the adult education instructor or trainer develop his or her approach to methods of instruction. In this foundational course on adult education, it is important to discuss the definition of what exactly is meant by ‘adult education’ as well as its purpose and how that has changed throughout its history.
Pauly, E., and Martinson, K. "Adult Education-A New Stimulus from Welfare Reform." Adult Learning 5, no. 2 (November-December 1993): 15-16.
According to McArthur, Konold, Glutting and Alamprese (2010), many adults in the United States have difficulties with basic literacy. A solution to this situation has been the founding of adult basic education (ABE) programs by the U.S Department of Education which helps and serves more than 2 million adults annually (U.S Department of Education, Division of Adult Education and Literacy, 2002, 2006). Mellard and Patterson (2008) found that ABE students differ in skill from zero or minimal reading skills to reading simple stories, books and descriptions on familiar subjects so new vocabulary can be determined by context. According to Mellard and Pattersen (2008) ABE literacy program is divided in to four levels which range from “beginners” to “high intermediate”. Scaffolding theory provides a promising method of providing support to students with learning challenges, e.g. dyslexia and short term memory deficit. As stated by Larkin (2001) the main purpose of scaffolding is to support students and slowly reduce help until they are able to apply the new skills and strategies independently. Students receive support to complete particular task and eventually demonstrate task mastery.
The scientific method is the analyzation of evidence, to examine a case from every angle possible, to not give up on an investigation until all of the angles are covered and to not allow personal emotions create a bias in their mind (Osterburg 2010). A scientific method example would be when an investigator arrives to a crime scene, they would first search the area for clues and see if something doesn’t seem right. Next they would have to search for different forms of evidence, most important would be trace evidence because it can provide DNA evidence which can also link a suspect to the crime. There are many more ways evidence and other clues can be harvested from a crime scene but it is up to the investigator to use their knowledge and help find the person responsible for the crime
The learning process for adults is never ending and can be very challenging. As an adult educator, teaching adult learners you will face many challenges in the learning process. It is our responsibility to keep the learners engaged, and to help them to realize their full learning potential.
Hiemstra, R., & Sisco, B. (1990). Moving from pedagogy to andragogy. Foundations of Adult Education: Critical and Contemporary Issues, Retrieved from http://www-distance.syr.edu/literature.html
The objective of this paper is to disclose how my career aspirations will align with the Adult Education program. The Adult Education program is important, because it provides a source for me to exercise my professional purpose. “Helping adult learners become successful one student at a time” is my professional purpose. I strive to make a difference in other lives, which drives me to contribute more than I have personally. Helping others motivate me to reach beyond my immediate means to other resources that can help adult learners to become successful.
Tompkins, G. (2010). Literacy for the 21st century: A balanced approach. (5th ed., pp. 12-286). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education Inc.
4. Analysis: having been through the adult learning experience I have realised the roll of learner and teacher in this approach. An effective teacher can facilitate the development of independence, self confidence, learning satisfaction and help students (the learner) to critical think. This experience has taught me that there are different styles of learning and teaching that I can adopt in my future. 5.
resolve problems. With the scientific method you have four steps to follow which include defining the
The steps that are included in most pre-college textbooks are defining the problem, gathering background information, forming a hypothesis, making observations, testing the hypothesis, drawing conclusions, and communicating the results, but this method is not used. One reason for this myth is the way results are published in research journals because it makes people believe that scientists follow a certain research plan. Philosophers have shown that no research procedure is applied by all scientists. Usually scientists use imagination, knowledge, perseverance, and other methods used by problem solvers. This myth teaches that science is not different from other challenges that humans face. This myth has a chance to be corrected because many newer textbooks are taking the method out of the discussions of
Reardon, S. F., Valentino, R. A., & Shores, K. A. (2012, Fall). Patterns of literacy among U.S. students. The Future of Children, 22(2), 17-37. Retrieved from Education Resources Information Center.