Liberal Learning and the
Natural Science and Mathematics Exploration Courses
“Becoming Responsibly Engaged in the World”
The natural sciences and mathematics are a vital part of our quest to understand the Universe and our place in it. One cannot be engaged in the world without at least a basic understanding of the knowledge gained through practice of the natural sciences and mathematics as well as the methods these disciplines use to construct that knowledge.
Natural Science Exploration
Guidelines
1. A natural science course should address the nature of science – its methods of inquiry, social practice and particular viewpoints. (Liberal learning Goals 1,4,5)
The outline below is a recommendation for what constitutes basic scientific literacy in this area. Instructors may choose to emphasize some parts of the outline over others and all topics may not be appropriate for every course. The outline is drawn from the text Science for All Americans[1] sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. A free web copy of this text can be found at the AAAS site: www.project2061.org.
Scientific World View
The world is understandable.
Scientific ideas are subject to change.
Scientific knowledge is durable.
Science cannot provide the answer to all questions.
Scientific Inquiry
Science demands evidence.
Science is a blend of logic and imagination.
Science explains and predicts.
Scientists try to identify and avoid bias.
Science is not authoritarian.
Scientific
Science is a complex social activity.
Science is organized into content disciplines and is conducted in various institutions.
Science has generally accepted ethical principles for the conduct of scientists.
Scientists participate in public affairs both as specialists and citizens.
2. A Natural Science course must focus primarily on scientific knowledge in one or more of the disciplines of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, Geology or interdisciplinary areas arising from them. (Liberal learning Goals 1, 2, 3)
3. A Natural Science course must have an associated laboratory section where students are exposed to the experimental methods and techniques appropriate to the discipline. The laboratory section should provide students with hands-on experience in the practice of science. The lab section is in addition to the lecture section and should constitute at least an average of an additional two (2) hours a week of supervised time (or a minimum total of 30 hours for a 1.0 credit class). The laboratory portion of the course might be concentrated in a number of longer sessions (including field observations or data gathering) or in weekly laboratory meetings. Homework assignments cannot be counted toward laboratory time. (Liberal learning Goals 1, 2, 3)
Comments on 300-level A courses
We anticipate that all 300-level Natural Science courses
will have prerequisites within the sciences.
Writing Across
the Core
Courses in the Natural Sciences will include writing appropriate to the discipline, the size of the course, and the level of the students. Examples of writing appropriate to the Natural Sciences include, but are not limited to, lab notebooks, field observations, lab reports, research papers and essays.
Learning Outcomes for
Natural Science Exploration Courses
Students that have completed an exploration course in the natural sciences should
1. understand the process of science as well as its strengths and weakness;
2. gain an understanding of a body of knowledge in at least one field of natural science;
3. ask and answer questions using the scientific methods of inquiry;
4. conduct scientific experiments, analyze data, and draw conclusions;
5. present results and conclusions from experiments in oral or written form;
6. apply scientific methods of inquiry to questions beyond the classroom.
Mathematics Exploration
Guidelines
Mathematics as an area of exploration includes quantitative analysis, algebra, calculus, probability, statistics, set theory, geometry, proof, number theory, functions, algorithmic analysis and problem solving with appropriate technology. (Liberal Learning Goals 2,3)
A mathematics class includes a daily discussion of at least some of the above topics, together with specific examples and related homework exercises, problems, or projects. (LLG 2)
A mathematics course consists of mathematics classes that deal with the techniques and principles of the above topics, where the context and applications are not tied to any specific discipline. (LLG 1,2,3)
Writing Across the Core
All mathematics exploration courses will be writing intensive, with a primary emphasis on clear, concise, and coherent presentation of mathematics content using appropriate notation, graphs, diagrams, and ordinary prose. Suggested assessment artifacts include homework problems, quizzes, boardwork, free-response exams, and individual/group projects.
Learning Outcomes for
Mathematics Exploration Courses
Students that have completed an exploration course in mathematics should be able to
1. gain an understanding of the mathematical perspective presented in at least one area of mathematics listed above;
2. represent mathematical information symbolically, visually, and numerically;
3. interpret mathematical models such as formulas, graphs, tables, schematics, or algorithms, and draw inferences from them;
4. use arithmetical, algebraic, geometric, statistical, or algorithmic methods to solve multi-step problems;
5. estimate and check answers to mathematical problems in order to determine reasonableness, significance, and if possible optimality.
[1] F. James Rutherford and Andrew Ahlgren. Science
for all Americans.