The true nature of science and math is most often found in innovative reporting about the real world.

How I Use It

I teach the IB Theory of Knowledge course for seniors in our International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. It is often disturbing how little these highly motivated students understand about the true nature of knowing in both science and mathematics. The NPR news website and app provide a gateway for my students to encounter radio articles addressing current events, including advances in science and mathematics, that often provide interesting, cross-disciplinary perspectives. One example is this article (link from the website) that notes a collusion between science and art: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15819485 . I use this tool by finding these jewels, either by easily scanning the headlines in the app or by listening to the articles on the radio, and presenting them in class to my students to spark a class discussion on the nature of knowing within math and science or serve as the prompt for a writing assignment. I also may create a home listening assignment with similar objectives.