Students should learn to design solutions to problems that interest them. This may be accomplished in a variety of ways, but situations that present a discrepant event or ones that challenge students' intuitions have been most successful. Classical experiments such measuring inertia and the speed of falling bodies need not be excluded. Rather, they should be a prelude to open-ended investigations in which the students have the chance to pose questions, design experiments, record and analyze data, and communicate their findings. Although original student research is often relegated to a yearly science fair project, continuing student involvement in research contributes immensely to their understanding of the process of science and to their problem-solving abilities.
Physical science provides much potential for inquiries.
The processes of inquiry, experimental design, investigation, and analysis are as important as finding the correct answer. Understanding Science and Technology - It is impossible to learn science without developing some appreciation of technology. The methods of scientific inquiry and technological design share many common elements - objectivity, clear definition of the problem, identification of goals, careful collection of observations and data, data analysis, replication of results, and peer review. Technological design differs from inquiry in that it must operate within the limitations of materials, scientific laws, economics, and the demands of society. Together, science and technology present many solutions to problems of survival and enhance the quality of life.