This page will collect the contributions from the teachers who have used this unit, in total or in part, in the classroom. Initially it just contains the general outline of the unit.
We have prepared a unit which describes the scientific method, incorporating numerous examples from the Newton project which illustrate it. The objectives we intend the students to achieve are:
- To know the methods used by scientists in research.
- To understand the importance of mathematics to obtan relations among the variables which describe the phenomena.
- To understand that the method is not dogmatic, nor immovable nor immutable.
- To undersand that only daily verification of what a theory predicts confirms its validity.
- To understand how important research using this method is for the discoveries and progress of our civilization.
- To understand the lack of material progress of those civilizations which have not known how to research and develop applications which permit scientific discovery.
- To understand that if it were not for physical-mathematical deductions it would be impossible to discover phenomena which contradict common sense.
- To understand the importance of having a "well trained brain" to be prepared to enter the social and working world with the necessary guarantees in an ever canging world.
- To deveop a critical sense when faces with any theory or statement in general.
- To learn the importance of planning any activity and of verifying the results.