ABSTRACT
One of the arguments put forward for practical work is that it teaches students something about the world of science. The idea is that students learn about the ways in which scientists use knowledge to explain real phenomena and events, the ways in which scientists investigate and so on. But what do students think that science is all about, and how might this influence their learning during practical work? This chapter considers students’ understandings of the nature of science itself, and the implications of this for the teaching of science through practical work.
