ERIC Number: EJ912883
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Nov
Pages: 4
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0031-921X
EISSN: N/A
Discrepant Events: A Challenge to Students' Intuition
Gonzalez-spada, Wilson J.; Birriel, Jennifer; Birriel, Ignacio
Physics Teacher, v48 n8 p508-511 Nov 2010
Studies on cognitive aspects of science education, especially how students achieve conceptual change, have been a focus of interest for many years. Researchers of student learning and conceptual change have developed several easily applicable teaching strategies. One of these strategies is known as "discrepant events". Discrepant events are very powerful ways to stimulate interest, motivate students to challenge their covert science misconceptions, and promote higher-order thinking skills. The key point is that directly challenging students' naive ideas will lead to more quality science learning going on in the classroom. In this paper, we summarize the research-based role of discrepant events in conceptual change and we share several highly successful discrepant events we use in our own classes. (Contains 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Scientific Concepts, Misconceptions, Thinking Skills, Teaching Methods, Cognitive Processes, Concept Formation, Student Motivation, Student Interests
American Association of Physics Teachers. One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740. Tel: 301-209-3300; Fax: 301-209-0845; e-mail: pubs@aapt.org; Web site: http://scitation.aip.org/tpt
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A