Despite over 10 years of reform efforts, research still shows that students typically have inadequate conceptions of what science is and what scientists do. Many science students, as well as some teachers, use a single "scientific method" that, "proves a hypothesis" by systematic data collection. By following a prescribed set of steps, and writing up a report requiring these steps, many students blindly accept that their data provide "proof" for their conclusion. This view does not acknowledge creativity, inference, or tentativeness as characteristics of science. It not only misrepresents the nature of science, but likely makes science inaccessible to many students. In this article, the author provides techniques that raise awareness of common terminology and the image of the nature of science in general. (Contains 2 figures and 1 online resource.)