Resumen de Models, matter and truth in doing and learning science

Mark Hardman

• Doing science involves the development and evaluation of models. These models are not objective truths but can be understood as explanations, which scientists use to explore and reason about an aspect of the world. Learning science involves students expressing and engaging with models in the classroom. However, this learning should not be seen as the growth of subjective understanding towards a correct scientific view. Students, like scientists, use myriad models to consider and explain the world. In this article, I will argue that recognising the role of models in both doing and learning science compels teachers to focus on the models that emerge in their classrooms.