Review for:A Private Universe

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posted: on October 18, 2006 at 4:47PM

My rating of this resource: ****

My experience using this resource:

astronomy

Topic I was teaching:

starting seasons

My learning goal for which this resource was used:

I wanted to give my students a feeling for why it is important to confront their own preconceptions to a topic. I felt that it would better prepare them to listen actively to what the real reason for the seasons.

Course Level:

Intro or Regular

How I/my students used the resource:

Had them watch the first 16 minutes of it and then we had a discussion about it.

Value Added:

Increases student engagement and motivation

Strengths:

This video is just amazing. They start by asking questions about why the seasons happen and what causes the moon to have phases to a random sampling of Harvard professors, graduates and alumns. I won't ruin it by telling you the % that got these very basic concepts (taught in elementary school) wrong. They also follow a bright student through these issues. They let her talk (and she is very articulate) so you can see the flaws in her model.

I think we are not often discussing with students how people learn. By understanding that better they can become better learners.

Weaknesses:

I found students were very engaged. The discussion afterward was pretty lively.

Researching the Wireless High School: Effects on Science Teaching and Implications for Professional Development, Copyright 2013 TERC.
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