Modifying instruction to respond to preconceptions or misconceptions can be very challenging. As there never seems to be enough instructional time during the day, it can be tempting to simply correct a student and move on. A more effective practice is to take time to address why the students' answer is incorrect and see if you can determine why they think that. One instance, during my final internship, where I had to address a misconception was on my gravity pretest. A significant number of my students identified Humpty Dumpty as the scientist who studied gravity by dropping things from the Leaning Tower of Pisa. I modified my lesson plans and instruction to include a lengthy discussion about this fictional character. It was not something I intended to have to focus on, but it ended up being an enlightening part of our dialogue.
|