Misconceptions: How what we know gets in the way of learning

Dr. Margaret WatermanBiology DepartmentSoutheast Missouri State UniversityCape Girardeau, Missouri, USA 63701

What do people bring to school?

Alternative Conceptions: sometimes called “misconceptions” Ideas and mental models that learners already have when they come to science.

Alternative Conception Examples

plants need to be fed chemical food rain drops are tear drop shaped the universe has a bottom-most level, which

accounts for things falling down organisms evolve because they see a need

and they adapt.

Explorations

Alternative conceptions are difficult to change.

Why? What methods can we use?

– Why simply telling what is correct won’t work

Beware the “calculus box”

Approaches to Try

The Learning Cycle Engage Explore Explain Extend Evaluate

The candle activity was a Learning Cycle

Approaches to Try

POE demonstrations Predict Observe Explain

The drops on a penny was a POE lesson