For a long time, science was seen as purely objective—free from bias or personal influence. But feminist thinkerschallenged that idea. They pointed out that science has historically been dominated by men, and that this shaped what questions were asked, how studies were designed, and whose experiences were ignored.
Allowing more diverse and unique practices and theories into science allowed it to grow beyond its rigid ways. This opened the doors to a "higher ceiling" of scientific thought.
Science should judge ideas based on evidence, not on who the scientist is.
This is important to understand since science is a practice solely based on evidence being used to prove theories. If the character of the scientist since the evidence is more grounded and important.
truth was possible—but only if people worked together to get closer to it.
This is important because it shows how science is a collective team effort, not an individual one. It requires cooperation between individuals to bring up the best results.
Creativity: A tendency to visualize and generate ideas and to think differently than usual. While often "lumped together" with critical thinking, creativity is complementary when conceptualized as synthesizing information to infer logical and feasible conclusions or solutions. It is also recognized as a characteristic of a good scientist, allowing them to think outside the box and envision unseen things.
In school, students are usually taught the teacher's method of learning. How they draw it up is how most students process the information during the class. Allowing students to learn their own ways encourages growth while keeping the material exciting and engaging.
Replicate and Test: When possible, try to replicate observations or experiments yourself to see if the results hold up. This empirical approach reinforces the need for verifiable evidence.
Replication is key, especially in science. It allows people to effectively prove their ideas and/ or claims to themselves or others and keep it grounded and valuable.
Open-mindedness: The willingness to be cognitively flexible and avoid rigid thinking. It means tolerating divergent views, seriously considering viewpoints other than one's own without bias, accepting feedback, and amending existing knowledge in light of new ideas. This is crucial for objectivity in a scientific mindset, striving to minimize biases and expectations.
I believe that being open-minded is extremely important as it allows you to gain information, even though it can be false. This can allow for a better exchange of ideas and claims with proper criticism.
What struck me was how often conspiracy theories rely on suspicion rather than substance. That experience deepened my commitment to thinking scientifically: not just believing what sounds exciting or countercultural, but sticking with claims that are supported by data, tested methods, and open scrutiny.
I find it important here how not many people now actually think about how they can prove their claims. Too often do they state claims without proper evidence to back it up.
Use Questions that Prompt Thinking: Ask authentic, open-ended questions that encourage students to focus on the process of thinking through an answer, rather than just knowing the right answer.
I believe that these types of questions allow for students to really think and work which can help their skills in the future.
Seek Help and Strategies: Understand that effort alone is not always enough; effective strategies and seeking help are crucial for improvement. Students with a growth mindset are more willing to seek resources when they struggle.
This is something I need to work on. When I am having trouble with concepts or material from classes, too often do I struggle with the material on my own rather than making use of the help at my disposal.
She started skipping office hours and procrastinating on assignments, convinced she simply was not “cut out” for coding. Her grades suffered, and her confidence plummeted.
This is something I still struggle with when I don't understand something or I know that I did poorly on an assignment. I tend to develop a negative view of my ability to get those things done as a result.
Recognizing how you learn best helps you study more effectively and efficiently.
I've found that by following this, I have been able to learn quicker and put less strain on myself while learning.
Metacognitive note-taking:
I feel like by improving my note-taking, I can understand the topics more and become more invested.
Encouraging analysis of graded work: Instead of just looking at the score, prompt students to compare their expected grade with the actual one, analyze patterns of mistakes, and reflect on their study strategies for future improvement.
I rarely did this throughout high school but am interested in how it can help me.
Students, particularly in higher education, face increasing learning demands that necessitate more than rote memorization and passive knowledge acquisition. To truly master complex subjects and become adaptable lifelong learners, students must cultivate and actively employ metacognitive strategies independently of direct classroom instruction or teacher intervention
This is how I've been feeling since the beginning of college. I've noticed that I need to put a lot more work into the subject matter in order to truly grasp its meaning.