Education Seminars Highlight Change in Conceptual Approach in Teaching

Peter Hewson

Two education seminars in West Hall on "Teaching Science and Mathematics for Conceptual Change" were held on February 17 and 18, featuring the speakers Peter Hewson and Stella Vosniadou. Organized by the Science and Mathematics Education Center (SMEC), the seminars were preceded by a film screening of "Minds of Our Own: Lessons from Thin Air," in Bathish Auditorium on February 15.

The film highlighted the difficulty teachers face when introducing new concepts to students. Conceptual change can be defined as a process in which an already existing concept is changed or altered to become the new framework from which students approach their studies. This form of learning usually entails conflict for the students between existing and new concepts. In explaining her views of conceptual change, Vosniadou said that when children are taught new concepts they assimilate them with what they already know, regardless of whether the existing concept is right or wrong.

In teaching science, students tend to add new ideas to what they already know, which may create misconceptions. In teaching math, new ideas are used to enable the students to acquire deductive reasoning by creating multiple approaches to one specific problem. Teachers are also able to predict how students develop misconceptions and learn how avoid them.

For his part, Hewson defined conceptual change as a process in which students replace one already existing idea with a new one. This process is greatly dependent on the student's surrounding and environment.

Hewson said that if there is any conflict in acquiring a new concept, it means the student is unable to replace the new idea with the old, and it is up to the teacher to make him or her understand the new concept better. Hewson stressed that conceptual change is about the student becoming aware that there are multiple approaches to learning and deciding which concept to accept. The role of the teacher, therefore, is crucial in helping the student by providing the suitable learning environment.

Vosniadou is a professor of cognitive psychology at the University of Athens. Hewson is a professor of science education at the University of Wisconsin.