Date of Award
Summer 7-19-2024
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ed.D. in Secondary and Middle Grades Education (Chemistry)
Department
Bagwell College of Education - Department of Secondary & Middle Grades Education
Committee Chair/First Advisor
Dr. Brendan Callahan
Second Advisor
Dr. Michael Dias
Third Advisor
Dr. Laurie Dias
Abstract
This case study, using phenomenography within science disciplines, examines how educators' experiences with misconceptions affect teaching methods in high school physics, chemistry, and biology. Based on constructivist and interpretive theories it highlights that personal experiences shape learning and involve continuously reconstructing knowledge. The shared misconceptions of 13 educators across science disciplines reveal how those experiences influenced both their content knowledge and instructional practices. The findings indicate that educators who openly acknowledge and learn from their past experiences with misconceptions are better equipped to recognize and address gaps in understanding, an asset to furthering student learning. This research highlights the importance of student-teacher interactions and communication in addressing misconceptions. One major implication of this study highlights the importance of fostering an open dialogue where educators can honestly share and learn from each other's experiences with misconceptions. The research suggests that those experiences are assets that enhance educators' ability to identify misconceptions, relate content from a lived experience, and empathize with student struggles.
Keywords: Claim Evidence & Reasoning, Discourse, Pedagogy, Misconceptions, Socratic Method
Included in
Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons, Educational Methods Commons, Junior High, Intermediate, Middle School Education and Teaching Commons, Linguistics Commons, Other Education Commons, Other Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons, School Psychology Commons, Science and Mathematics Education Commons, Secondary Education Commons, Secondary Education and Teaching Commons, Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education Commons, Social Psychology Commons, Theory and Philosophy Commons