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Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial
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Viewing Ideas
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Before Watching
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Ask students to describe the nature of science and the process
by which scientists investigate the natural world. Define
"hypothesis" and "theory" for students and have them come up
with examples of each (see
The Nature of Science).
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Organize students into three groups. Assign each group to take
notes on one of the following program topics: evidence
supporting intelligent design as a scientific theory, evidence
that ID is not a scientific theory, and evidence supporting the
theory of evolution.
After Watching
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Have each group meet and create a synopsis of its notes to
present to class. What was the judge's final decision? Discuss
his ruling with the class. What evidence did he base his
decision on?
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Ask students to describe some of the characteristics of science.
(Science is a systematic form of inquiry, based on
observation, prediction, reasoning, and testing, that seeks to
explain how the natural universe works. Scientific hypotheses
can be tested and experimental results reproduced or
observations repeated.)
What kinds of questions do scientists ask?
(A biologist might ask, "How do bees find pollen? When do
they collect it? How do they find their way back to the hive?
What is the pollen used for?")
Would an investigation into animal migration be science? The
predictions of an astrologer? The decoding of the human genome?
Psychic mind-reading? Why or why not?
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