Learning about the Seasons

with a 3D Manipulative

Problem

How can I design a method that helps the students to understand the concept of seasons ?

By

Diana Ergen

The Seasons is a Difficult Topic to Understand

•Misconceptions

•Methods of teaching

Why are Misconceptions Difficult to Eradicate from Students Minds?

Studies show that students coming into a learning environment bring their own conceptions of the world (Broadstock, 1993).

Many of these conceptions are highly resistant to change, they are, therefore likely to pass into the adulthood (Baxter,1991).

In order to change students misconceptions it is important to design a teaching method that address these misconceptions and introduced to the students a new concept that is:

Useful Understandable

Misconceptions

Seasons are explained by the varying distance between the Earth and the Sun (Frede,2008).

Tilt oscillation Hypothesis, students believe that the direction of the axis is not constant.Lacking of understanding at “ the earth rotates along a tilted axis is what causes the seasonal temperature variation, as it affects the angle of incidence of solar energy that travels to the sun”(Lee,2010)

Methods of Teachingthe Seasons

7 Step Instructional

StrategyThomas, 2011

DiagramsLee,2010

Refutational Modeling Activities

Frede,2010

Technologically Enhanced

EnvironmentYing-Shao Hsu,2008

3D Computer Modeling

Huseyin Kucukozer

A ConstructivistApproach

Baxter,1991

Seven Step Instructional StrategyStudy: The Reasons for the Seasons by Jeffrey Thomas

1• Present a scenario that is not

well known.

2• Have students predict an

outcome.

3• Have students construct

theoretical explanations.

4 • Have students observe the

outcome.

5• Provide opportunities for

students to modify competing explanations.

6 • Evaluate competing explanations

7• Reiterate the preceding steps

with different data

Refutational Modeling ActivitiesStudy: The Seasons Explained by Refutational Modeling Activities by Valerie Frede

Show why Misconceptions did not

fit

3 Hypothes

es

1. The earth is closer to the Sun in Summer and further away in Winter2. The rotation axis oscillates.3.The rotation axis is tilted but keeps a fixed direction in space

Modeling of the Distance

Hypothesis

Modeling of an absence of tilt

Modeling of an oscillatory

movement of the axis

Inversion of the seasons

between hemisphere

s

If the axis were not tilted, the length of the day

would not change.If there were an

oscillation of the

rotation axis, the length of the day

would not vary.

REFUTATIONS

The Effects of 3D Computer Modeling on Conceptual Change About Seasons and Phases of the Moon by Huseyin Kucukozer

Results

Students developed a more solid understanding of the seasons, which challenge their previous misconceptions (Thomas 2011).

The refutational activity was efficient in producing conceptual change in a lasting way (Frede 2008) .

The used of 3D computer models for teaching the seasons made a considerable contribution to learning (Kucukozer,2008).

After experiencing, exploring, and manipulating simulations and animations,the students were able to more clearly visualize the phenomenon of seasonal change and to develop their explanations (Ying-Shao Hsu,2008)

Methodology

The participants in this study would be two classes of 9th grade students at a public school in Westbury School District. The number of students of each class is 27.

Data Collection Methodology

Pre-test

Post-test

Quasi Experimental

3D Manipulati

veWithout

3D Manipulative

Data Analysis Methodology

Descriptive

Statistics

Central Tendenc

y

Mean Median Mode

Variability

Range VarianceStandard Deviatio

n

Expected Results

The students that would learn the topic of the seasons with a 3D Manipulative would abandon their misconceptions about the seasons and they would be able to comprehend and understand this topic better.