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Science Literacy

Approx. 23 hours to complete

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Course Summary

This course explores the basic principles and concepts of science literacy. It covers a range of topics from scientific methodology to scientific inquiry and critical thinking.

Key Learning Points

Understand the basic principles and concepts of science literacy
Develop critical thinking skills through scientific inquiry
Learn how to evaluate scientific information and media

Job Positions & Salaries of people who have taken this course might have

Science Writer
- USA: $62,000
- India: INR 4,48,000
- Spain: €35,000
Science Communication Specialist
- USA: $55,000
- India: INR 4,00,000
- Spain: €30,000
Science Educator
- USA: $50,000
- India: INR 3,60,000
- Spain: €27,000

Learning Outcomes

Develop a deeper understanding of scientific concepts
Improve critical thinking skills
Learn how to evaluate scientific information and media

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Basic understanding of scientific concepts
Access to internet

Course Difficulty Level

Beginner

Course Format

Online self-paced course
Video lectures
Interactive quizzes

Similar Courses

Scientific Thinking and Communication
Science Writing and Journalism

Related Education Paths

Notable People in This Field

Neil deGrasse Tyson
Bill Nye

Related Books

Description

Fake news or good science? In a world where we have access to unlimited information, it is hard to sift through the echo chamber of opinions fueled by emotions and personal biases, rather than scientific evidence. Science Literacy will teach you about the process of science, how to think critically, how to differentiate science from pseudoscience, how indigenous wisdom can inform science, how to understand and design a scientific study, and how to critically evaluate scientific communication in the media. Every module will build your new skill-base with real life examples, and at the end of each module you will have to apply these skills to scientific questions, talking points and controversies in the world. Warning: this course requires an open mind and the ability to self-reflect.

In Science Literacy, you’ll hear from special guests: Timothy Caulfield, Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy and star of Netflix’s “A User's Guide to Cheating Death” on pseudoscience Dr. Torah Kachur, Scientist and CBC journalist on science communication (and miscommunication!) Christian Nelson, Citizen Scientist and creator of Edmonton Weather Nerdery, on experimental design Metis Elder Elmer Ghostkeeper and Cree Elder Kokum Rose Wabasca, on the holistic nature of Indigenous wisdom and how it can work with the scientific process Associate Professor in Psychology, Dr. David Rast on uncertainty and decision making

Knowledge

Learn how to think critically and understand the scientific method
Learn how to form well balanced and logical scientific arguments, read and design scientific research papers
Learn how to differentiate and discriminate science from pseudoscience, fake science and bad science
Become scientifically literate, and be able to critically evaluate information in the mainstream and social media, as well as every day life

Outline

Module 1: Introduction to Science
Welcome to Science Literacy
A Difference of Opinion
Heuristics
Science isn't "Just a Theory"
Traditional Knowledge: Part 1
Traditional Knowledge: Part 2
Traditional Knowledge: Part 3
Creating Convincing Arguments
Drag and Drop Activity: Empirical, anecdotal or logical
Biases in Decision-Making
Drag and Drop Activity: Types of Bias
Science and Not Science
Metaphysical Thought
Drag and Drop Activity: Metaphysical
Accumulating Knowledge
Suggested Reading
Drag and Drop Activity: Traditional and Scientific Knowledge
Empirical evidence
Pre-flection: Common Sense and Intuition
Common sense and intuition
End of Module 1 Quiz

Module 2: Pseudoscience
Pseudoscience and Science-ploitation
Fraud Science, Bad Science or Pseudoscience?
Why do we fall for Pseudoscience?
Drag and Drop Activity: Science vs Pseudoscience
Watch and Reflect: Hallmarks of Pseudoscience
Drag and Drop Activity: Hallmarks of Science vs Hallmarks of Pseudoscience
Logical Fallacies
Drag and Drop Activity: Logical Fallacies
Drag and Drop Activity: Uncertainty Vs Logic
Carl Sagan: The Demon Haunted World
Preflection: Science or Pseuodoscience?
Science or Pseuodoscience? Review
Science, Fraudulent Science or Bad Science?
Uncertainty
Uncertainty Review
Video reflection: Skeptical or not?
The Demon-Haunted World: Reflection
The Demon-Haunted World: Reflection II
The Demon-Haunted World: Reflection III
End of Module 2 Quiz

Module 3: Critical Thinking
Alternative explanations
Correlation is not Causation
Replicability in Evidence
The Strength of Evidence
Falsifiability
Occam's Razor
The Who, What, Why, When and How of Critical Thinking
Thinking Critically about a Claim
Thinking Critically About a Claim 2
Revisiting terms about Correlation-Causation
Article: Illusions of Causality
Drag and Drop Activity: Correlation, Not Causation
Drag and Drop Activity: Replicability
The 3 Rs
Why didn't the bird cross the road?
Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence
Watch and Reflect: How did our view of the Universe Change?
Drag and Drop Activity: Claims Proportional to the Evidence
Ylang Ylang Evidence Review
Karl Popper
Drag and Drop Activity: Falsifiability and Risky Predictions
Watch and Reflect: Falsifiability
Onsite inspection of reputed UFO landing marks at Duhamel, Alberta
Drag and Drop Activity: Making Fewest Possible Assumptions
Recommended listening and reflection
Reflection: Critical Thinking or not?
Lesson Reflection
Assessing Associations 1
Assessing Associations 2
Replicability
Why didn't the bird cross the road?
Astronomy Video Reflection
Lesson Preflection: Falsifiability
UFO or UF-NO?
End of Module 3 Quiz

Module 4: Scientific Methods
Variables
Research techniques and models
Sampling
Correlation
What is in a Scientific Paper?
What Can Blind Fish Teach Us About Sleep?
Drag and Drop Activity: Critical Thinking and the Scientific Method
Drag and Drop Activity: Variables
What is a hypothesis
Drag and Drop Activity: Hypothesis testing
Research Design 1
Drag and Drop Activity: Population Sample
Research Design 2
Research Design 3
Drag and Drop Activity: Surveys
Research Design 4
Drag and Drop Activity: Research Design Case Study
End of Module 4 Quiz

Module 5: Interpreting Evidence
Peer Review: the scientist's perspective
Statistics
Science Communication
Sharpening and Levelling
Science Vs Opinions
Scientists can miscommunicate their science too!
Congratulations!
Watch and Reflect: What is Peer Review?
Read a Peer Reviewed Article
Drag and Drop Activity: Evidence Based Conclusions from Primary and Secondary Sources
Watch and Reflect: Descriptive Statistics
How Scientists Use Statistics, Samples, and Probability to Answer Research Questions
Watch and Reflect: Inferential Statistics
Using Inferential Statistics
Drag and Drop Activty: Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
How to avoid statistical errors
When statistical significance is not practically significant
Watch and Reflect: Statistical vs Practical Significance
Drag and Drop Activity: Practical vs Statistical Significance
Watch and Reflect: The Importance of media communicating science
Drag and Drop Activity: Problems and Solutions in Science Reporting
Suggested Listening: Torah Kachur
News Coverage of A Scientific Finding
Drag and Drop Activity: Sharpening, Levelling or Pseudosymmetry
Disparity in claim on social media and strength of supporting evidence
Watch and reflect: Social Media
Watch and reflect: Scientists Communicating Science
Rules for Scientists Communicating Science
Scientists "digesting" their science to a general audience
Writing Your Digest
Drag and Drop Activity: Spreading and Stopping Misinformation
Watch and Reflect: Insist on Evidence- Open Data
Preflection: What is Peer Review?
Assessing the meaning of statistics
Case Study: Biofilm
Abstract and Highlights
News Coverage Article Reflection
Sharpening and Levelling
Open Data
End of Module 5 Quiz

Summary of User Reviews

The Science Literacy course on Coursera received positive reviews from many users. It is considered a great course for those who are interested in science and want to improve their scientific literacy. Many users found the course to be engaging, informative, and well-structured.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

The course content and structure were highly praised by many users.

Pros from User Reviews

Engaging and informative course content
Well-structured course with clear objectives
Great for improving scientific literacy
Interactive and hands-on learning experience
Accessible for beginners and experts alike

Cons from User Reviews

Some users found the course to be too basic
Course materials could be more diverse
Limited interactions with instructors
Not enough opportunities for peer-to-peer interaction
Some technical issues with the course platform

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