"Evaluating Earth Science Misconceptions in One School Districts: A Cas" by Katherine Marie Schafer
 

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Availability

Open Access Thesis

Keywords

Earth sciences--Study and teaching--Iowa; Common fallacies; Earth sciences--Study and teaching; Iowa; Academic theses;

Abstract

This research was a case study in common Earth science misconceptions revealed among students in one rural Iowa school district known as "Ruraltown." Students in grades 5, 8 and 10 participated in this study. Evaluation of misconceptions was done through the administration of the Misconceptions-Oriented Standards-Based Assessment Resources For Teachers (MOSART). MOSART is designed to test for students' understanding of content contained within the K-12 Earth science National Science Education Standards and also to reveal misunderstandings held by students. Three questions guided this research study. One, how do students in this school district compare with students who participated in the national study in their understanding of Earth science concepts and held misconceptions? Two, how does the current district curriculum align with the National Standards upon which MOSART is based? Three, what changes could be made in the district's science curriculum that could assist students in resolving their misconceptions? Conclusions from this research show that students in Ruraltown are similar in their understanding of Earth science concepts when compared to their national peer group and that they hold several specific misconceptions. A number of gaps were found in comparing the district's curriculum to the national standards. As the state of Iowa is currently moving toward a mandated curriculum based on these standards, these gaps will need to be addressed by Ruraltown schools. Third, a number of recommendations to the district were made in hopes of providing some guidance to the district to benefit their current and future students.

Year of Submission

2008

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Department of Physics

First Advisor

Jeffrey Morgan

Second Advisor

Cherin Lee

Third Advisor

Chad Heinzel

Comments

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Date Original

2008

Object Description

1 PDF file (134 leaves)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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