Multi-tasking while sitting in class

This was an exercise done at my GRSC7800 class today. We were trying to gauge the inhabitance of multi-tasking in note-taking during the class lecture. We were shown a video (see below) and asked to take notes in two conditions a) while doing multi-tasking and b) without multi-tasking.

Should I be skeptical of Science?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUB4j0n2UDU



Condition-A
The first set of 5 minutes of the video were shown and we were asked to write notes as in a regular class with multi-tasking. For doing multi-tasking we were given a set of "activities" to be done that needed some attention too and explicitly made us deviate from concentrating on the video.

Everything including any theory proposed by anyone should be learning and not just following.

The following last six points of the Bologney detection kit without distraction (multi-taksing):

1. How reliable is the science and the data used to support a theory. E.g. was given for the case of global warming

2. Are there sources for similar claims, can one verify the data?

3. Are the claims verified using the experiments that can be repeated?

4. Does the theory sound logical, give a thought using common sense. E.g. the email spams from Nigeria offering huge sums of money

5. Have any counter examples/theory that disprove the claims of some theory.


Condition-B
The following notes were taken for second half of the video where we were asked not to do multi-tasking and concentrate on note taking and the lecture.

Science is like solving a crime and a person has to look for theory that explains all the observed facts seen by others.

7. Are the claims valid by the science?
Or simply calling out some thoughts. Eg. The Seti community compared to the UFO claim people. Seti people are having hypothesis and testing various thesis's and in UF ppl are not using logic.

8. Is the Claimant providing support of his theory or just denying theories of others.

For e.g. the area-51 documents are hidings facts but this logic cannot prove the existence of UFO theory. Need to have positive evidence.

9. Does the new theory count or the old theory

E.g. the theory of everything

10. Do the personal beliefs are driving the research or its the objective fact that supports the theory
E.g the global warming is just a theory driven by politics or can we use a scientific data and conclude our understanding.

There is a range of theories going around ranging from unscientific and scientific (true to probably not true facts).


On a personal note, I think this is a good video to be shown to school students and might help in promoting interest in science and questioning and seeking answers for 'strange' things that one encounters in daily life.

Thanks,
-Sairam