The Vocabulary of Science: First Steps to Science Literacy

The Vocabulary of Science: First Steps to Science Literacy, available at Free, has an average rating of 5, with 52 lectures, 9 quizzes, based on 199 reviews, and has 10381 subscribers.

You will learn about Master the different ways that scientists use key terms like “theory”, “fact”, “law”, “hypothesis”, and “model” Analyze arguments and fallacies about science that turn on the meaning of these concepts Build a foundation for understanding science and debates about science Recognize the most common confusions that people who write about science are prone to make This course is ideal for individuals who are Science science educators and science enthusiasts of all types or Anyone interested in learning how to better communicate with others about scientific issues, and engage constructively in scientific debates or Anyone interested in understanding how science really works or Anyone interested in the history and philosophy of science It is particularly useful for Science science educators and science enthusiasts of all types or Anyone interested in learning how to better communicate with others about scientific issues, and engage constructively in scientific debates or Anyone interested in understanding how science really works or Anyone interested in the history and philosophy of science.

Enroll now: The Vocabulary of Science: First Steps to Science Literacy

Summary

Title: The Vocabulary of Science: First Steps to Science Literacy

Price: Free

Average Rating: 5

Number of Lectures: 52

Number of Quizzes: 9

Number of Published Lectures: 52

Number of Published Quizzes: 9

Number of Curriculum Items: 61

Number of Published Curriculum Objects: 61

Original Price: Free

Quality Status: approved

Status: Live

What You Will Learn

Master the different ways that scientists use key terms like “theory”, “fact”, “law”, “hypothesis”, and “model”
Analyze arguments and fallacies about science that turn on the meaning of these concepts
Build a foundation for understanding science and debates about science
Recognize the most common confusions that people who write about science are prone to make

Who Should Attend

Science science educators and science enthusiasts of all types
Anyone interested in learning how to better communicate with others about scientific issues, and engage constructively in scientific debates
Anyone interested in understanding how science really works
Anyone interested in the history and philosophy of science

Target Audiences

Science science educators and science enthusiasts of all types
Anyone interested in learning how to better communicate with others about scientific issues, and engage constructively in scientific debates
Anyone interested in understanding how science really works
Anyone interested in the history and philosophy of science

WHAT IS THIS COURSE ABOUT?

Is evolution a theory, a fact, or both?This question has been debated by critics and defenders of evolution for many years.

Some claim that evolution is a theory, not a fact. Others claim that evolution is a fact, not a theory. And still others say that evolution is both a theory and a fact.

What exactly is going on here?

One reason why the debate persists is that people disagree not only on the strength of the evidence for evolution, but also on the meanings of the key terms, “theory” and “fact”.

This course is designed to help you understand and think critically about debates like these, debates about the nature of science that turn on the meanings of scientific terms like “theory”, “fact”, “law”, “hypothesis” and “model”.

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR

I have 20 years of experience teaching the history and philosophy of science at the university level, but now I work as independent online educator. I have given lectures on the topic of science literacy to national and international audiences.

I have over 30,000 students on Udemy, where I also offer courses on critical thinking and argumentative essay writing.

WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR, AND WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

This course is for anyone interested in learning more about how a philosopher of science thinks about science and scientific reasoning.

It will be of special interest to science students, science educators of all kinds, and people interested in debates about the nature of science.

In this course you’ll learn the various meanings of the key terms, “theory”, “fact”, “law”, “hypothesis” and “model”, as they’re used both within and outside science.

You’ll learn the most common confusions made by people who write about science.

And you’ll have an opportunity to test your understanding through quizzes and a video critique assignment.

Course Curriculum

Chapter 1: Welcome to the Course!

Lecture 1: Question: Is Evolution a Theory, a Fact, or Both?

Lecture 2: Why Am I Qualified to Teach This Course?

Lecture 3: Overview of the Course

Lecture 4: Update: Additional Videos on Science Literacy and Science Education

Chapter 2: An Important Distinction for the Whole Course

Lecture 1: An Important Distinction: Epistemically Loaded versus Neutral Language

Chapter 3: What is a Theory?

Lecture 1: "It's Just a Theory": "Theory" as Down-Player

Lecture 2: "Theories are the Pinnacles of Science": "Theory" as Up-Player

Lecture 3: Why We Need a Neutral Definition of "Theory"

Lecture 4: A Neutral Definition of "Theory": A Classical (But Incomplete) Story

Lecture 5: A Neutral Definition of "Theory": A More Sophisticated Story

Chapter 4: What is a Fact?

Lecture 1: "You Can't Deny the Facts": A Loaded Definition of "Fact"

Lecture 2: "I Had the Facts Wrong": A Neutral Definition of "Fact"

Lecture 3: Can There Be Theoretical Facts?

Chapter 5: What is a Law?

Lecture 1: Loaded Definitions of "Law"

Lecture 2: Examples of Laws in Biology and Psychology

Lecture 3: Examples of Laws in Astronomy and Physics

Lecture 4: Unpacking the Neutral Concept of "Law"

Lecture 5: But Are There Any Laws?

Lecture 6: A Quick Word: Are Laws Explanatory?

Chapter 6: What is a Hypothesis?

Lecture 1: "That's Just a Hypothesis": A Loaded Definition of "Hypothesis"

Lecture 2: A Neutral Definition of "Hypothesis"

Chapter 7: What is a Model?

Lecture 1: Introduction: What is a Model?

Lecture 2: Maps and Models

Lecture 3: Models as Tools for Reasoning About the World

Lecture 4: How Equations Can Be Models

Lecture 5: Is There a Difference Between a Model and a Theory?

Chapter 8: Theories, Models, Truth and Reality

Lecture 1: Introduction: Theories, Models, Truth and Reality

Lecture 2: The Challenge of Interpreting Scientific Theories

Lecture 3: Prediction and Truth: Lessons from Ptolemy

Lecture 4: Prediction and Truth: Lessons from the Kinetic Theory of Gases

Chapter 9: Test Yourself: "Fact vs. Theory vs. Hypothesis vs. Law … Explained!"

Lecture 1: Assignment: Critique a 7 Minute Video on the Vocabulary of Science

Lecture 2: Part 1: The Motivation for the Video

Lecture 3: Part 2: "Scales of Truthiness"

Lecture 4: Part 3: The Fundamental Error

Lecture 5: Part 4: Problems With Defining Facts in Terms of Observations

Lecture 6: Part 5: Problems With Defining Hypotheses as Starting Points for Inquiry

Lecture 7: Part 6: Problems With Defining Theories as Well-Supported

Lecture 8: Part 7: Problems with Defining Evolution as an Observable Fact

Lecture 9: Part 8: Problems with Defining Laws in Terms of Observations

Lecture 10: Part 9: Can Laws Explain, or Do They Just Describe? Kepler, Newton and Einstein

Lecture 11: Part 10: Analyzing the Last Slide

Lecture 12: Part 11: Who is to Blame?

Chapter 10: Why is Science Literacy Important, and How Should We Teach It?

Lecture 1: Introduction to the Videos in This Section

Lecture 2: Should We Expect Our Politicians To Be Science Literate?

Lecture 3: Why Most People (Even Science Phds) are Scientifically Illiterate

Lecture 4: A Curriculum For Teaching Genuine Science Literacy: Overview

Lecture 5: The Logic of Science

Lecture 6: The Methods of Science

Lecture 7: The Landscape of Science

Lecture 8: The Ethics of Science

Chapter 11: Wrapping Up

Lecture 1: What's Next?

Lecture 2: Bonus Lecture: Coupon Codes and Other Resources

Instructors

Kevin deLaplante
PhD, Philosopher, Founder of the Critical Thinker Academy

Rating Distribution

1 stars: 1 votes
2 stars: 2 votes
3 stars: 20 votes
4 stars: 51 votes
5 stars: 125 votes

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have access to the course materials?

You can view and review the lecture materials indefinitely, like an on-demand channel.

Can I take my courses with me wherever I go?

Definitely! If you have an internet connection, courses on Udemy are available on any device at any time. If you don’t have an internet connection, some instructors also let their students download course lectures. That’s up to the instructor though, so make sure you get on their good side!

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