Engaging in the practices of science helps us understand how scientific knowledge develops; such direct involvement gives us an appreciation of the wide range of approaches that are used to investigate, model, and explain the world. Engaging in the practices of engineering likewise helps us understand the work of engineers, as well as the links between engineering and science. Participation in these practices also helps us form an understanding of the crosscutting concepts and disciplinary ideas of science and engineering; moreover, it makes our knowledge more meaningful and embeds it more deeply into their worldview. The actual doing of science or engineering can also pique our curiosity, capture our interest, and motivate our continued study; the insights thus gained help us recognize that the work of scientists and engineers is a creative endeavor—one that has deeply affected the world we live in.
Science and engineering can contribute to meeting many of the major challenges that confront society today, such as generating sufficient energy, preventing and treating disease, maintaining supplies of fresh water and food, and addressing climate change. Any knowledge that focuses predominantly on the detailed products of scientific labor—the facts of science—without developing an understanding of how those facts were established or that ignores the many important applications of science in the world misrepresents science and marginalizes the importance of engineering.
Science and engineering can contribute to meeting many of the major challenges that confront society today, such as generating sufficient energy, preventing and treating disease, maintaining supplies of fresh water and food, and addressing climate change. Any knowledge that focuses predominantly on the detailed products of scientific labor—the facts of science—without developing an understanding of how those facts were established or that ignores the many important applications of science in the world misrepresents science and marginalizes the importance of engineering.
Topics of Exploration:
1. What is the process for developing potential design solutions?
2. How do science, engineering, and the technologies that result from them affect the ways in which people live? How do they affect the natural world?
3. What are the relationships among science, engineering, and technology?
4. How do living organisms alter Earth’s processes and structures?
2. How do science, engineering, and the technologies that result from them affect the ways in which people live? How do they affect the natural world?
3. What are the relationships among science, engineering, and technology?
4. How do living organisms alter Earth’s processes and structures?
National Research Council 2012. A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/13165
This site contains original content that may not be authorized for use by the creator and is legally used under the fair use principles section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1986 (17 U.S. Code § 107)
The official NGSS website. https://www.nextgenscience.org
This site contains original content that may not be authorized for use by the creator and is legally used under the fair use principles section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1986 (17 U.S. Code § 107)
The official NGSS website. https://www.nextgenscience.org