Research tells us that students' misconceptions about a topic are often quite resistant to change, yet sometimes misconceptions must change if students are to acquire an accurate understanding of the world around them. Describe at least three teaching strategies that theorists believe should help students change their misconceptions about the world

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Strategies for promoting conceptual change include the following (the three strategies described should reflect at least two of these ideas):
• Identify misconceptions before instruction begins so that instruction can deal specifically with them.
• Describe or demonstrate a phenomenon that students cannot adequately explain using their current understanding of the world.
• Ask questions that challenge students' existing beliefs.
• Have students conduct experiments and make predictions about what will happen based on their existing beliefs; encourage them to revise their thinking when their predictions are not accurate.
• Show how the correct explanation is more plausible (i.e., makes more sense) than students' existing beliefs.
• Give students corrective feedback about responses that reflect misunderstanding.
• Build on students' correct understandings (i.e., "kernels of truth") about certain aspects of a phenomenon.
• Preserve students' self-esteem when pointing out errors in their reasoning.
• Have students discuss the pros and cons of various explanations.
• Ask students to apply their revised understandings to new situations.
• Frequently check students' understanding, monitoring for persistent misconceptions.