Misconceptions in Science Education

Book excerpt: How do we make sense of our world? How does giving an immediate, intuitive response impact its quality, what are its features, and how is this related to misconceptions? Who is afraid of misconceptions? Despite cognitive ability and information being accessible like never before, learners often provide incorrect, intuition-based responses to science and mathematics questions. Based on comprehensive research, combining quantitative and qualitative methodologies, this book suggests a paradigm shift into an “empathic space” in which students, elementary and middle school, pre-service teachers and researchers can utilize misconceptions as a learning tool. The book follows the cathartic “Aha!” moment, in which the learner understands the source of his incorrect response, as the researcher re-discovers the chief role of the facilitator teacher within the process of creating knowledge is based upon empathic human interaction.