A Private Universe (fragments)
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With its famous opening scene at a Harvard graduation, this classic of education research brings into sharp focus the dilemma facing all educators: Why don't even the brightest students truly grasp basic science concepts? This award-winning program traces the problem through interviews with Harvard graduates and their professors, as well as with a bright ninth-grader who has some confused ideas about the orbits of the planets. Equally useful for education methods classes, teacher workshops, and presentations to the public, A Private Universe is an essential resource for science and methodology teachers. Produced by the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. 1987. ISBN: 1-57680-404-6
Comments
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It is a shock to see the kids' quality of education. Holy Kraaaaap
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Very thought-provoking. But is this video really showing that bright students don't grasp basic science concepts? The cause of summer being hotter than winter isn't a basic science concept. The video seems instead to show that many students aren't good at applying basic concepts, and perhaps aren't very introspective.
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This video changed how I taught science. I didn't rely on a multiple choice test or essay... I want the student to demonstrate his knowledge six month after I teach...
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hi, how can i download this video ?
I want to have it . -
At 2:10 the woman states that "she has gotten through school without a scientific background, she has gotten very far without it." I think she is referring to getting a degree as "getting far" and I can only shake my head--from the specimens coming out of university nowadays (at least in America) I wouldn't call that getting far_. I want to site my doctor as an example: I was just saying how I couldn't understand how this guy made it through medical school and earned a P.h.d, nevermind how he made it through life, he is such an idiot.
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The end of the video is missing and shows the teacher giving a very clear and correct explanation, then a followup interview with the same student who repeats both the correct information and the original misconception together (even though they contradict one another). The point of the documentary is to show that misconceptions are not erased by correct information and that our brains are perfectly capable of believing contradictory statements simultaneously. This means a teacher must draw out the misconception, specifically identify why many people believe it and why it is actually wrong, and then there will be space for the new information to take its place.
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Btw, the full video is here:
http://www.learner.org/vod/vod_window.html?pid=9
The earth's tilt is the reason for the changes of season, the total exposure to the sun is about the same through the year, the distribution of light between northern and southern hemisphere changes based on the tilt along the orbit. -
Sorry flowerbower, I just finished another presentation about what is required to teach some concepts without promoting unscientific ideas about the earth moon and Sun. We put that presentation online for the participants. Your comment came to me in an email, and I thought you were referring to it.
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Teaching is a racket, especially at the school level. Textbooks are full of errors. No wonder that there are thousands of applications for patents on physically impossible inventions.
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I met the student, Heather a few years ago. After raising a family, she went back to school and got a degree in Physics. She had no idea that this video had so much impact in science education
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This is pretty scary. Especially the explanation from what the teacher calls the bright student. It's a lot worse to be both wrong and confident. The student was a lot more creative and specific, and for that reason a lot further off. They should try to encourage students to be more sceptical.
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As far as I know, there's no Spanish version.
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Is there a Spanish version? I need to show it to some non English speaking teachers.
8m 59sLenght
69Rating