Reasoning in natural science against school tasks
Reasoning in natural science against school tasks

Summary/Abstract: In the parts of the Polish core curriculum provided for natural science subjects some requirements refer to reasoning. In order to fulfill them and provide deeper understanding of scientific method teachers should equip students with general knowledge about several types of reasoning (e.g. differences between deduction and reduction and between several types of induction) and their application, and should practice with them recognising and using them in specific situations. There are near 50 interesting, well designed and often standarised tasks in the Base of Good Practices of the Educational Research Institute which refer to the core curriculum requirements concerning reasoning and argumentation. In this paper I present: 1) some basic knowledge about reasoning in science which in my opinion students should be taught, 2) the logical potential of the mentioned tasks and 3) a deeper analysis of three of those items. I demonstrate that in possible paths leading to the solutions of those tasks at least simple reasonings are present, however such items should be better exploited in order to teach and train reasoning skills and their correct application in science.

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