Preconceptions Summary
Student preconceptions (misconceptions, naïve understandings) are important for teachers to uncover, address, challenge and extend. These are commonly held (but not always scientifically accurate) ideas that children bring to the classroom. Students come to school with ideas about the world and science principles because of experiences and observations that have helped to shape those beliefs. Learners hang onto those ideas until multiple experiences cause them to question previously-held beliefs and to form new explanations.
Educators need to discover student preconceptions and be aware of the related scientifically accurate ideas. It is the teacher’s role to facilitate learning experiences that challenge inaccurate ideas, solidify developing ideas, and reinforce and extend scientifically accepted ideas. Knowing student preconceptions helps educators to ask probing questions and craft experiences to move students along to greater science understanding.
Below is a summary of the preconceptions and scientifically accurate ideas related to the Structures unit:
Preconceptions about Structures:
Structures are all manmade.
Scientifically Accepted Ideas:
Structures can be natural or made by living things to meet a need or to serve a symbolic or aesthetic function.
Preconceptions about Live and Dead Loads
Live load is living; dead load is non-living.
Scientifically Accepted Ideas:
Dead load refers to the weight of the materials of the structure itself; live load refers to the weight of the materials the structure is built to support or hold.
Preconceptions about Foundations and Frameworks:
Structures begin at ground level or in the basement.
Scientifically Accepted Ideas:
The foundations of many structures are built on a framework resting on bedrock.
Preconceptions about Perimeter:
A building’s perimeter remains constant as it rises in height.
Scientifically Accepted Ideas:
A building’s perimeter may vary at different heights.
Preconceptions about the Weight of the Dead Load:
No structure can be heavier on top than on the bottom.
Scientifically Accepted Ideas:
Some structures are built with more dead load at a height than on the ground (water towers, for instance).
Preconceptions about Mass:
The more mass a building has, the stronger it will be.
Scientifically Accepted Ideas:
Light, strong building materials (like steel) can be used to build structures which can hold more live load than structures with heavier materials (like masonry).
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