MESSING WITH THEIR HEADS

1
MESSING WITH THEIR HEADS

• Using Discrepant Events to Arouse Interest and
  Combat Misconceptions

2
What is a discrepant event?

• A discrepant event causes a discrepancy in
  what is physically observed and what the observer
  thinks should happen.

3
How do I do a discrepant event?

• The Set Up
• The Event
• The Explanation

4
Essential Elements of Discrepant Events

• Arouse your students interest
• -a story, a challenge, etc
• Use simple materials
• Use multiple gateways
• -demonstrate, pick a volunteer, involve students
  in a related activity
• Include examples
• Show joy and enthusiasm

5
Why do a discrepant event?

• What students know is true is not what they
  witness, creating cognitive dissonance
• Cognitive dissonance makes the student wonder
  opening their minds to alternative explanations

6
When do I use discrepant events?

• To engage students in learning about a concept,
  issue, or skill.
• To create an opportunity to unlearn a
  predetermined misconception.

7
Can you prove that it works?

• Positive influence on content achievement
• because of student motivation.
• Suchman, J.R., Inquiry Training in the
  Elementary School, THE SCIENCE TEACHER, Vol. 27,
  Nov. 1960.
• Marlins, James G., A Study of the Effects of
  Using the Counterintuitive Event in Science
  Teaching on Subject-matter Achievement and
  Subject-matter Retention of Upper-elementary
  School Students, Doctoral Thesis, The American
  University, 1973.
• Liem, Tik L., A Study of the Effects of Using
  Discrepant Events in Science Teaching on Concept
  Retention of Upper Elementary School Students,
  Institute of Education, Halifax, 1980, pp.
  287-293.
• Liem, Tik L., Effects of Using Discrepant Events
  in Science Concept Retention of Junior High
  School Students, Paper presented to the National
  Co-Educators Conference, Winnipeg, October 1980.
• Best, J.W., RESEARCH I N EDUCATION,
  Prentice-Hall, New Jersey, 1977.

8
Good Misconception Books

• Invitations to Science Inquiry, Second Edition.
  Tik L. Liem. ISBN 1-878-106-007
• Magic and Showmanship for  Teachers  by Mr.Allen
  J.McCormack.
• Bet You Can. Vickie Cobb.
• Bet You Cant. Vickie Cobb.

9
Internet Resources

• Misconceptions Web Sites of Interest
•  
• Bad Science
• PSU Website with some great information on it.
• http//www.ems.psu.edu/fraser/BadScience.html
•  
• Childrens Misconceptions About Science
• Long lists containing science misconceptions.
• http//www.amasci.com/miscon/opphys.html
•  
• Earth Science Misconceptions
• Great list of ES misconceptions
• http//k12s.phast.umass.edu/nasa/misconceptions.h
  tml
•  
• Recurring Science Misconceptions in K-6 Textbooks
• http//www.eskimo.com/billb/miscon/miscon4.html
•  
• SamCATS Science Misconceptions
• Research articles dealing with science
  misconceptions

10
Your Journal Entry
In what part or parts of the 5E model would you
create cognitive dissonance to battle a
misconception? Explain why you chose this
part of the 5E model.