Module 5: Discussion #4 - Current Events/Relevant Topics Conversation

Instructions should be read carefully.

Are you Assigned to this Group? Everyone participates in the "Current Events Conversations".

Writing Your Response:

1. Current Events Conversations" are slightly less formal than your Group Debates. Students still need to use proper grammar and writing techniques. Responses should be complete, well thought out, and presented in a logical manner.
2. A minimum of two paragraphs are required for this initial posting.
3. You are not required to support your post with references, but you are encouraged to include images, graphics, links to videos, and so on to create a more dynamic submission.
4. Your initial post should be submitted on time and response comments posted by the session deadline.

Responding to Peers: Please be certain to read and comment on TWO other classmates' posts. Your comments should address something specific from your peer's post. Note: Brief responses like "I agree" or "I disagree" will receive no credit.

Topic of Conversation: Part 1: Uncertainty Scientific facts are measurements. They are not changeable, nor are they subject to interpretation. However, with any measurement, in science, there is a certain amount of uncertainty. This uncertainty is made up in two basic ideas: accuracy and precision. In the real world, these terms have similar meanings. But in science, these terms are very different:

Accuracyis how close or far a measurement is from the actual value. Precision is how well we know the value of the measurement.

For example, we all generally know a few digits of the mathematical constant pi (3.141592657...). If we are given four different measurements of this mathematical constant, we can make a statement about their relative accuracy and precision: Measurement A: 3.1415 Measurement B: 3.14 Measurement C: 3.1105 Measurement D: 3.12 Measurements A and B areequally accuratesince they both correspond to a correctly rounded version of the true value. However, the first value ismore precisebecause it contains more digits. Measurement C isless accuratethan Measurement A since it is not as close to the actual value. But, it isequally as preciseas Measurement A. So here's the question: Measurement D is more accurate than Measurement C, but Measurement C is more precise than Measurement D.

1. Which measurement is better?
2. Why do you think it is?

Part 2: Analysis A primary part of the scientific method is to analyze facts and to draw conclusions based on them. Unfortunately, this portion of science can be subject to interpretation. Conclusions that are drawn based on the same facts may be different among scientists. It should not be difficult to believe that conclusions based on a different set of facts may be even more different. So, whose conclusions do we use and why? What makes one scientist morecrediblethan another? What makes one source more credible than another? How can we tell when information isreliable?

Credibilityhas to do with the author or source of the information, but it is generally unrelated to the information itself. Reliability has to do with the information/facts/measurements themselves, and it can be based, in part, on the credibility of the source or author.

For example - measurements are more reliable with increased accuracy and precision. But the reliability of the same information would be considered less reliable coming from a 5th grader than from a doctor or a professor. In today's internet age, credibility and reliability are very important - how can you tell that the website you are visiting is credible and that the information is reliable? For the rest of this discussion board:

1. List the two most important factors (to you) that can help determine the credibility of a source of information; and
2. List the two most important factors (to you) that can help determine the reliability of information that is presented.

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