Public discussions of the explanations proposed by students
is a form of peer review of investigations, and peer review is
an important aspect of science. Talking with peers about science
experiences helps students develop meaning and understanding.
Their conversations clarify the concepts and processes of science,
helping students make sense of the content of science. Teachers
of science should engage students in conversations that focus
on questions, such as "How do we know?" "How certain
are you of those results?" "Is there a better way to
do the investigation?" "If you had to explain this
to someone who knew nothing about the project, how would you
do it?" "Is there an alternative scientific explanation
for the one we proposed?" "Should we do the investigation
over?" "Do we need more evidence?" "What
are our sources of experimental error?" "How do you
account for an explanation that is different from ours?"
-- National Science Education Standards, p. 174
