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Re: [Phys-l] Student Misconceptions



Naive conception could be better term than preconception for students?
However, PhDs or geniuses are not immune to misconceptions!
All PhDs do not have any misconceptions on quantum field theory?

Alternative framework or alternative conceptions should be preferred as better terms for physicists' incorrect conception? This is unfair...


Best regards,
Alphonsus

Quoting Joseph Bellina <inquirybellina@comcast.net>:

I think we should be careful to distinguish misconceptions from misunderstandings. Most of this list and I think BC's are more misunderstandings or unanswered questions. I think perhaps preconception is a better term because it implies a mental model built on everyday experience prior to most instruction. I think these are different from mistaken new ideas picked up in classrooms, or ideas not fully developed as a result of instruction. Of course there is the possibility that a preconception is reinforced by classroom work done by an unwary teacher.
I also like the approach of Hammer and VanZee, that these preconceptions occur through scientist-like thinking. The problem, as I see it, is that preconceptions result from science-like analysis are based on fragmented data sets in which the analysis does not include the need to be self-consistent across a range of experiences. Whereas in science self-consistency is an important component of theory development.
Finally in terms of classroom use, I think it is important for teachers to know the sorts of ideas students might be bringing to the classroom so that engagement can be designed to address them, as for example in McDermott's work. However I think it is not so pedagogically useful to tell someone they have a preconception, rather than constructing a situation in which they discover it for themselves.
So I think it is useful to find lists of ideas students might have. Rosalind Driver's work comes to mind. As I recall, Novak at Cornell also ran some conferences on this.

joe

Joseph J. Bellina, Jr. Ph.D.
Retired Professor of Physics
Co-Director
Northern Indiana Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Collaborative
574-276-8294
inquirybellina@comcast.net




On Sep 28, 2011, at 10:21 PM, carmelo@pacific.net.sg wrote:

Quoting Bernard Cleyet <bernardcleyet@redshift.com>:

How about Ph.D.s' misconceptions. I had one. I queried the list
and received NO response, so I'll try again.

There are possibly many physics Ph.D.s' misconceptions...

Speed of light: It is constant and invariant?
Speed of light is the ultimate speed limit?
Mass of an object is constant and invariant?
Inflationary universe?
Newton's second law is really Newton's?
The correct interpretation of quantum mechanics?
The correct meaning of E=mc2?


Best regards,
Alphonsus

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Forum for Physics Educators
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_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
https://carnot.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l