Emergent Instruction

Developing scientific habits of mind allows individuals to create new mental habits that successfully cope with uncertainty by methodically working to solve complex problems and make sound decisions. Education should have two objects: first, to give definite knowledge — reading and writing, languages and mathematics, and so on; secondly, to create those mental habits which will enable people to acquire knowledge and form sound judgments for themselves. The first of these we may call information, the second intelligence.  -Bertrand Russell Mental Habits A mental habit is the routine thought behavior that an individual engages (often subconsciously or compulsively) when faced with a specific circumstance. As a habit, it is formed through repetition of experiences over time. The process of habit can be described through a simple loop with three components: trigger (or reminder), routine, and reward. An event triggers a pattern of behavior that has been used previously, and th...

Understanding the essential characteristics of science can lead to acceptance of the scientific enterprise and the development of scientific habits of mind- mental habits that help you to navigate uncertainty and solve complex problems. What is this term Nature of Science? The Nature of Science (NOS) is a term that is used in primary and secondary school education. It is an attempt to accurately and simply portray the philosophy and culture of the scientific enterprise. I believe that understanding of NOS is essential for all- and a prerequisite for those who wish to solve complex problems by developing scientific habits of mind . In fact, scientific habits of mind are directly informed by NOS. So, what is the Nature of Science? I’m going to copy/paste an excellent table from a seminal work in science education, The Role and Character of the Nature of Science in Science Education : TABLE I  A consensus view of the nature of science objectives extracted from eight...