Topic: Natural Sciences
At the beginning of the program for theory of knowledge regarding natural sciences, Mrs. Nickel introduced us to the steps of the scientific method and how they can prove a hypothesis right or wrong. We learned that one can come up with a hypothesis by first making an observation and then coming up with a question about that observation. After having stated a hypothesis a prediction can be made which will then of course be tested. Depending on if the results of the test meet our prediction or not, we can conclude that our hypothesis is true or not and hence workout our hypothesis or devise a new one. In order to have the chance to directly apply our newly acquired knowledge we were given a task to solve in groups: each team was given a box with random objects in it and our job was to figure out what objects the box contained without opening and peaking inside the carton. We also had the opportunity to utilize some tools such as magnets or a needle which could help us to determine the unknown objects, hence we could try out different methods of testing our predictions. For this exercise we noted down our process of thinking, the steps of the scientific method, so in the end we could present our solutions to the class. It took the groups quite a while to settle to a final result before revealing the objects, however we had a lot of fun observing and making hypotheses. So in a nutshell, we had a very interesting morning and enriching lessons!
Im zweiten Teil des Tages befassten wir uns, angeleitet von Frau Dr. Debrunner, mit Themen des logischen Denkens, wie Argumentationen und häufigen Fehlern oder diesbezüglichen Fallen. Diese intensive Einführung in so komplexe Strukturen war anspruchsvoll, aber wir konnten einige Einblicke in die wissenschaftlichen Arbeitspraktiken gewinnen und lernten, wie wir Informationen und Argumente zukünftig kritisch beurteilen können. Schliesslich – das Beste kommt ja bekanntlich zuletzt – wagten wir uns noch daran, häufig vorkommende, falsche (und, wenn man darüber nachdenkt, sehr absurde) Denkmuster zu erkennen und zu korrigieren. Besonders spannend daran war, dass wir uns selbst dabei ertappten, wie wir fast alle dieser Trugschlüsse und Fehler tagtäglich verwenden. So konnten wir uns auch an diesem ToK-Tag wieder neue Perspektiven und Skills aneignen, die uns nicht nur für Schulisches, sondern auch Alltägliches nützlich sind.
Nina Dellmann, David Machuzhak (5i)
