The nature of science, as well as the importance of explicit attention to the nature of
science during instruction, was a consistent theme throughout the program. Students were
introduced to current views of the nature of science early on through a series of inquiry-based
activities, readings, film clips, and class discussions. While the nature of science was an explicit
outcome of these activities, a didactic teaching strategy was avoided. Rather, students were
encouraged to construct current conceptions of the nature of science through explicit discussions
and reflections about the scientific enterprise, as well as the activities they had completed. It is
important to note that in this context explicit does not mean direct instruction. It refers to explicit
attention to the nature of science within the context of inquiry-oriented instruction.