Speaker
Dr
Wolfgang Aschauer
Description
Students' misconceptions strongly hinder conceptual understanding in physics. This also includes the particulate nature of matter or, in optics, the visibility and colour perception of objects. This study investigates the effectiveness of LIVE ACTs — a type of analogy role-play — in enhancing conceptual learning in these two fields. Therefore, an intervention study was conducted with six intervention and six control classes at five Austrian secondary schools. Pre-tests confirmed comparable prior knowledge between the groups. Post-tests revealed statistically significant learning gains in the intervention groups in both domains. Thus, LIVE ACTs constitute a promising tool for addressing persistent misconceptions in these topics.
| Education level | Age 12-15 (Secondary education) |
|---|---|
| Physics topic | Other |
| Research focus | Student conceptions / Preconceptions / Misconceptions |
| Research method | Analytic Physics Education Research (Quantitative research) |