2. Problem
How can I design a method that helps
the students to understand the concept
of seasons ?
By
Diana Ergen
3. The Seasons is a Difficult Topic
to Understand
• Misconceptions
• Methods of teaching
4. Why are Misconceptions Difficult
to Eradicate from Students
Minds?
Studies show that students coming into a learning environment bring their own conceptions
of the world (Broadstock, 1993).
Many of these conceptions are highly resistant to change, they are, therefore likely to pass
into the adulthood (Baxter,1991).
In order to change students misconceptions it is important to design a teaching method
that address these misconceptions and introduced to the students a new concept that is:
Useful Understandable
5. Misconceptions
Seasons are explained by the
varying distance between the Earth
and the Sun (Frede,2008).
Tilt oscillation Hypothesis, students
believe that the direction of the axis is
not constant.
Lacking of understanding at “ the earth rotates along a
tilted axis is what causes the seasonal temperature
variation, as it affects the angle of incidence of solar
energy that travels to the sun”(Lee,2010)
6. Methods of Teaching
the Seasons
7 Step Instructional Refutational
Diagrams
Strategy Modeling Activities
Lee,2010
Thomas, 2011 Frede,2010
Technologically A Constructivist
3D Computer
Enhanced Approach
Modeling
Environment Baxter,1991
Huseyin Kucukozer
Ying-Shao Hsu,2008
7. Seven Step Instructional
Strategy
Study: The Reasons for the Seasons by
Jeffrey Thomas • Present a scenario that is not well
1
known.
2 • Have students predict an outcome.
• Have students construct theoretical
3
explanations.
4 • Have students observe the outcome.
• Provide opportunities for students to
5
modify competing explanations.
6 • Evaluate competing explanations
• Reiterate the preceding steps with
7
different data
8. Refutational Modeling Activities
Study: The Seasons Explained by
Refutational Modeling Activities by Valerie
Frede
1. The earth is closer to the Sun in
Show why 3
Summer and further away in Winter
Misconceptions Hypothese 2. The rotation axis oscillates.
did not fit s
3.The rotation axis is tilted but keeps
a fixed direction in space
9. REFUTATION
S
Modeling of the Inversion of
Distance the seasons
Hypothesis between
hemispheres
If the axis
were not
Modeling of an tilted, the
absence of tilt length of the
day would
not change.
If there were
Modeling of an an oscillation
oscillatory of the rotation
movement of the axis, the
axis length of the
day would
not vary.
10. The Effects of 3D Computer
Modeling on Conceptual Change About Seasons and
Phases of the Moon by Huseyin Kucukozer
11. Results
Students developed a more solid understanding of the seasons,
which challenge their previous misconceptions (Thomas 2011).
The refutational activity was efficient in producing conceptual change
in a lasting way (Frede 2008) .
The used of 3D computer models for teaching the seasons made a
considerable contribution to learning (Kucukozer,2008).
After experiencing, exploring, and manipulating simulations and
animations,
the students were able to more clearly visualize the phenomenon of
seasonal change and to develop their explanations (Ying-Shao
Hsu,2008)
12. Methodology
The participants in this
study would be two classes
of 9th grade students at a
public school in Westbury
School District. The number
of students of each class is
27.
15. Data Analysis Methodology
Descriptive
Statistics
Central
Variability
Tendency
Standard
Mean Median Mode Range Variance
Deviation
16. Expected Results
The students that would learn the topic of
the seasons with a 3D Manipulative would
abandon their misconceptions about the
seasons and they would be able to
comprehend and understand this topic
