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The epistemological works of Gaston Bachelard (1884- 1962), written and published between 1928 and 1953 try to make traditional philosophers of science aware of the discontinuous structure of scientific change and the dynamics of the scientific mind. Bachelard often argued that the historical and technical progress of the sciences show that the purely descriptive and classificatory features of past science are sooner or later substituted for epistemic models which rely mainly upon the scientist’s power to technically construct the objects of scientific inquiry. The relationships that Bachelard saw between scientists, theories, experimentation, and scientific technology in science led him to coin the philosophical concept of ‘'phenomenotechnique.' This concept reflects the historically contingent, artificial, constructed, social character of both scientific knowledge and scientific entities. Bachelard claimed the instruments are materialized theories. Just like mathematics, they are products of technique. Technique, on the other hand, is the rational expression of the scientist’s world view. Scientific knowledge is what ends up being technically objectified in scientific instrumentation. Groups such as the social constructivists argue that ‘phenomenotechnique’ expresses their own claims regarding the strictly rhetorical nature of science. However, to Bachelard, the presuppositions behind the concept preserve the rational essence of scientific thought. ‘Phenomenotechnique’ is one of the most potentially rich concepts that Bachelard has to offer to contemporary science studies. The purpose of this dissertation is to offer a full account of the history and implications of ‘phenomenotechnique.’ Part I is an explanatory analysis of the concept as it appears in all the epistemological works of Gaston Bachelard. It also shows how ‘phenomenotechnique’ relates with other Bachelardian concepts such as ‘technical materialism,’ ‘epistemological rupture,’ ‘psychoanalysis of scientific thought,’ ’applied materialism,’ and ‘social consensus.’ Part II deals with the intellectual and scientific context of France in the first half of the twentieth century which led Bachelard to coin the term. Finally, Part III will attempt to incorporate ’phenomenotechnique’ into today’s science studies. / Ph. D.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the current methods of teaching and the available science material for the teaching of elementary science in order to prepare a proposed plan of instruction for the seventh and eighth grades of Jefferson School for the 1941-1942 school year.

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

by Au Yeung Po See. / Title also in Chinese. / Thesis (M.A.Ed.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1989. / Bibliography: p. 61-72.

My research centers upon designing transformative learning environments and supporting technologies. Kitchen Science Investigators (KSI) is an out-of-school transformative learning environment we designed to help young people learn science through cooking. My dissertation considers the question, 'How can we design a learning environment in which children discover the utility of science in their lives and their own scientific capabilities?' I have explored this question in the context of designing and enacting KSI. We designed the environment (i.e., activities, facilitation, and technology support) so that in the midst of cooking, participants generate personal goals that they need science to achieve. Our design integrates software to promote scientific practices in a real world context. In my thesis research I analyze how learners are developing identity as scientific reasoners in this environment. I also make recommendations about the design of learning environments and technologies to help with scientific development. My dissertation study is a longitudinal study of individuals in our most recent implementation of KSI. My current analysis of KSI shows significant development of disposition and identity development among focal learners, as well as a set of causal factors. I found that as learners connected cooking and science, and as they participated in science socially with their friends, they began to increase their scientific participation in and outside of KSI. My findings suggest guidelines for software support, facilitation, and activities for getting learners engaged in scientific inquiry in ways that promote the development of scientific identities.

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education