Background: Recognizing the relatively few studies that have explored university students' understanding and alternative conceptions in linear and circular motion as well as the relatively few studies that have used 2-dimensional multiple-choice questions (MCQs) in the science education literature, this study set out to contribute to these areas.…

Previous research has shown that students employ intuitive thinking when understanding scientific concepts. Three types of intuitive thinking--essentialist, teleological, and anthropic thinking--are used in biology learning and can lead to misconceptions. However, it is unknown how commonly these types of intuitive thinking, or cognitive…

Genetic variation is historically challenging for undergraduate students to master, potentially due to its grounding in both evolution and genetics. Traditionally, student expertise in genetic variation has been evaluated using Key Concepts. However, Cognitive Construals may add to a more nuanced picture of students' developing expertise. Here, we…

Background: In learning mechanics, students often believe that "force is exerted on moving objects." As this misconception called "motion implies a force" (MIF) is difficult to correct, various teaching methods have been proposed, such as showing refutational/explanatory text (Palmer & Flanagan, 1997; Takagaki, 2004),…

Integrating agent-based models (ABMs) has been a popular approach for teaching emergent science concepts. However, students continue to find it difficult to explain the emergent process of natural selection. This study adopted an ontological framework--the Pattern, Agents, Interactions, Relations, and Causality (PAIR-C)--to guide the design of…

The simple demonstration presented, herein, involves the combustion of acetylene liberated from the rapid hydrolysis of 0.50 g of calcium carbide. The unsaturated hydrocarbon formed burns with a yellow sooty flame in air. This acetylene-air flame being visually attractive is often misused by those attempting to showcase their illusory magical…

Contemporary secondary science education is characterised by a greater inclination towards the constructivist paradigm of education and the development of inquiry-oriented teaching. The basic principle of this paradigm is the dynamic modification of preconceptions towards the desired level given by the school curriculum. This places particular…

The importance of genetic diversity, especially within small populations of endangered species, is becoming increasingly apparent. Genetic engineering techniques that could potentially enhance diversity are now being developed. However, the use of such techniques would require social licence and yet within the general population there is limited…

Despite considerable progress made in educational neuroscience, neuromyths persist in the teaching profession, hampering translational endeavors. The initial wave of interventions designed to dispel educational neuromyths was predominantly directed at preservice teachers. More recent work in the field, reviewed here, has shifted its focus…

This study examines prevalent misconceptions among students regarding the fundamental concepts of acids and bases, which often arise during the learning process. This study aims to pinpoint misconceptions held by preservice science teachers in the realm of acids and bases; 117 university students from diverse educational backgrounds, enrolled in…

Resonance is a fundamental chemistry concept first introduced to students in General Chemistry I, reintroduced in Organic Chemistry I, and then utilized throughout other higher-level chemistry courses. A molecule or ion can be said to exhibit resonance when it can be represented by two or more chemical structures (i.e., Lewis structures) that…

This study evaluated recent advances in learning progressions for the concept of matter (LPCM) and explored trends by reviewing the literature on the topic published between 2005 and 2021. A total of 21 studies were reviewed. Fifteen studies were devoted to developing LPCM of varying spans and grain sizes. There were six follow-up studies based on…

This article outlines the results from the research on primary and secondary school pupils' conceptualisation of microorganisms. It has been observed from the past few decades that one conceptual model is dominant, in which microorganisms are considered harmful, disease-causing and living in dirty environments. These misconceptions are only likely…

We aim to graphically analyze the depth of conceptual understanding behind the Force Concept Inventory (FCI) responses of students, focusing on three questions (questions 1, 15, and 28). In our study, we created and implemented subquestions to clarify and quantify the students' reasoning steps in reaching their responses to the original FCI…

This study aims to investigate the effect of the teaching model developed for hot conceptual change on middle school 7th-grade students' understanding of the Nature of Science (NOS) aspects. In this qualitative and exploratory study, activities were carried out with 24 students of two classes in a village school in the South Marmara region using a…