Figuring out the finches - University of Washington



Requirements for the BGuILE activity (note: please read the Models and Arguments paper distributed in class before embarking on this assignment)

This assignment will require you to use the software BGuILE, a repository of authentic information about an ecosystem collected on the island of Daphne Major in the Galapagos. The reason for this exercise is for you to experience three interconnected aspects of inquiry that you will eventually help your own students become competent in--1) completing a self-directed investigation using authentic scientific data, 2) systematically collecting evidence to create a theory/model for a real problem, and 3) constructing an argument that coordinates the evidence collected with a proposed theory. These are precisely the activities that real scientists engage in and these activities, therefore, characterize the discipline of science.

The products of this assignment are due on Wednesday, November 20th. This software is on six of the iMacs in the computer lab in Miller Hall. The software is also public domain so you may copy it to a disk and use it at home if you have a Mac.

The assignment is for you to use the BGuILE database to construct a theory (a model that explains phenomena) about why the population of ground finches dropped so precipitously in the late 1970’s. Listen to the opening movie in BGuILE if you need a reminder of what the context was for this problem.

Keep track of and record possible theories about the finches as you think of them. Consider how you could collect certain types of evidence that would support or refute your tentative theory/theories. Also, keep track of the assumptions that you are making (for example, about how the birds raise their young or about who eats what on the island) as your refine your theories or develop new ones. Please note that there are no simple causal relationships in the real world and there isn’t a simple “one cause --one effect” on Daphne Major.

You will need to set aside a couple of “chunks” of computer time to work on this inquiry. It requires concentration and an organized way to collect data (keep a running record of your theories and the evidence you’ve collected).

Product: Here is what your scientific argument will look like:

First describe what knowledge of natural selection and these particular plant and animal species you brought to this assignment.

Then follow the structure of argumentation below: these will require full paragraphs to answer!

1. Initial theories: What were some of the tentative theories that you had as you were beginning to explore the software? Why did you preserve some and why did you reject others?

2. Claim: What is your final claim or claims? (these are your “theories” explaining why the finch population dropped). Remember, claims are like the final product, not what you started with but your conclusion after systemically collecting data. The claim may have multiple components. Draw out the relationships as diagrams (include objects, events, characteristics, relationships, etc.) as well as describing them verbally.

3a. Evidence: Present the evidence for your claim in a systematic way. Remember, evidence is the data your collected to support your claim. Include charts and graphs from BGuILE.

3b. Justification: When you talk about evidence, it won’t make any sense unless you connect it to your tentative theory. Data does not “speak for itself.” Say explicitly why your evidence supports your theory.

5. Rebuttals: Did you systemically collect evidence to make sure that a competing theory was not supported? Name the most likely theory for the demise of the finches that you rejected and describe what type of evidence you collected to refute that competing theory.

6. Assumptions: In supporting your claims, what are the assumptions you are making about the finches, the plants, animals, or environment that you do not have direct evidence to substantiate?

7. Generalizing: Take one of the specific relationships that you uncovered in this database and make a general theoretical statement about natural selection that may apply to more organisms that simply those you have studied on Daphne Major.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download