Re: Course on skepticism (using Mythbusters)


Robert wrote:
> After watching a number of episodes in class, some of my high school physics
> students have expressed interest in creating a "Mythbusters" club. It seems
> to me to be a very good idea, as it would encourage skeptical thinking (in
> the positive sense of the term, and not in the derogatory way that
> non-scientists use the word "skeptic".)
>
> In terms of books and articles that we can use, I already am familiar with
> CSICOP and its "Skeptical Inquirer", and the Skeptic Society and its Skeptic
> magazine. At some point we probably would try to "Bust a myth" ourselves,
> in the method of Mythbusters (of course, only with proper safety
> precautions!) But it seems that we might be able to test some physics
> myths. Any suggestions for something that might be doable on a limited
> budget?
>
> (Perhaps we may investigate some claims regarding "alternative" medicine...)
>
> Do you know of anyone who has had any experience in creating a similar sort
> of club for high school students?
>
> Thanks for your suggestions,

Just always stress to the students that mythbusting consists of more
than setting out to disprove a myth. They must be prepared for either
of two outcomes: [1]- a relevant experiment categorically excludes the
myth as a possibility, [2]- the myth stands up to the experiment and
remains plausible, if not expressly shown to be a fact. The role of
experimentation is to discover truth where it lay.

In fact, you could even *make up* some myths of your own, for
instance about basic physics, and allow your students to design
effective experiments to test them.

-Mark Martin

.

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