Noticing the Unnoticed (Part 1)

How well do you notice?

Scientific investigations generally begin with noticing something
perplexing, which makes you curious and inspires you to ask questions.

"When you really look at something, you notice details that you otherwise wouldn't see."
What does it mean to really notice? Is there a difference between noticing and observing?
In our daily life we are often selective about what we pay attention to. While this helps us to be efficient, it can also prevent us from noticing and thinking about everyday patterns that are all around us. For example, noticing the relationship of the hands on the clock to each other, is probably much more helpful to us than noticing the colour or form of the markers between the numbers.
The difference between noticing and observing really comes down to "active processing." Observing is more passive, such as paying attention using our senses (seeing, hearing, touching). When we actively process information around us by perceiving it and reflecting upon it, we are much more likely to notice patterns, to make connections to other things that we know, and to develop an appreciation for what we are looking at. Noticing is a more active process, it is more cognitively demanding, as it requires the noticer to take control of, and direct their attention, using their mind. Stopping to reflect can lead to noticing and deepened scientific understanding.

Are you engaging young scientists in noticing?
To help students refine noticing skills they need to be provided with time.

Have students notice the natural world first hand, or through videos, photos, or by reading about scientists' observations.

What new wonderings do their observations spark? What questions flourish from their observations?

With guidance, these questions can lead to fruitful thinking, discussions, and
investigations.

Have students create a
What do I notice/ What I wonder chart

See infographic with questions:
What do you notice?
• What more do you notice when you shift your perspective? 
• What new information can you uncover?
• Which tools will extend your sense to help you observe?
i.e. hand lenses, thermometers, or a microscope 
• What did you observe?
• What did notice about the data?
• What did you already know from experience?
• What problems exist that do not make sense?
• No what do you really notice?

What do you wonder?
• How is it the same as? Different than?
• What does it remind you of? What changes do you notice?
• How many? How long? How often?
• What do you think is happening and why?
• What did the data "tell" you? 
• What patterns did you see?
• What relationships did you see?

Try this National Geographic Quiz on noticing.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/…/160326-animals-featur…/

#science #noticing #AUSCIBABE #BITL #TfEL