This course will explore the validity of arguments and/or conclusions in dinosaur research through evaluating the scientific evidence. In this course, students will read, experiment, and evaluate scientific literature surrounding dinosaurs. Students are expected to work with others to evaluate the plausibility of the dinosaur concepts and theories, and will engage in hands-on experiments to add additional information to their interpretations. Students will be expected to participate in evaluation mechanisms to assess critical thinking and science literacy. There are no prerequisites and no laboratory component to this course, although hands-on activities will be a primary focus each week.

Goals

This course is intended to engage students in science and the fossil record through the study of dinosaurs. It is intended that students will develop ideas, evaluate existing theories, and explore evidence to support or refute dinosaur interpretations. Through this course it is intended that students develop scientific fluency and critical thinking skills.

Objectives

• Explore the scientific method and how science is conducted, communicated, and synthesized in dinosaur research.
• Develop theories behind dinosaur morphology and behavior and assess how these theories are supported or refuted by evidence from the fossil record.
• Evaluate the usefulness of modern analogues in dinosaur morphology and behavior.

Textbook

The textbook for this course is “The Story of Dinosaurs”, authored and curated by Dr. Ashley Burkett. The textbook and associated ancillaries have been intentionally created and licensed to be free for students to use and other educators to modify for use in their local contexts. Although the resource is licensed CC-BY, it is the author’s intent that students not be required to purchase the book either as a standalone resource as a package with other resources.