Experimentation in science, engineering, and education

Titelangaben

Paul, Jürgen ; Groß, Jorge:
Experimentation in science, engineering, and education.
In: International Refereed Journal of Engineering and Science. Bd. 6 (2017) Heft 6 . - S. 22-27.
ISSN 2319-183X

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Abstract

Experimentation is used differently in science, engineering, and science education. The aim of many science fairs is to encourage young talent in scientific inquiry. Based on 57 interviews with participants of a German youth science fair, this article points out typical students’ conceptions about the procedure and the purpose of experimentation. The analysis of the interview data revealed that the derived concepts firstly depend on each other and secondly reflect the differences in the way of thinking and working between scientists and engineers. Since experiences with experimentation provide the basis for learning and thus for the conceptual knowledge about science, we conclude that it is essential, for science education, to distinguish the engineer’s and the scientist’s point of view and to implement more authentic inquiry in science lessons at school.