An Analysis of Teachers’ Concept Confusion Concerning Electric and Magnetic Fields

Abstract

In an exploratory study, 36 South African physical science teachers' understanding of basic concepts concerning electric and magnetic fields was studied from a perspective of possible concept confusion. Concept confusion is said to occur when features of one concept are incorrectly attributed to a different concept, in the case of this study to magnetic and electric fields. An example of concept confusion is the perception that a magnetic north pole has an excess of positive charges and consequently attracts negative charges placed in the field. The researchers constructed a framework of 20 interrelated critical aspects of which the scientific topic is composed conceptually. Next, the understanding of concepts and interactions in electric and magnetic fields by 36 teachers of physical science (a subject combining physics and chemistry for grades 10-12), who were enrolled for an in-service subject knowledge upgrading course, was probed through questionnaires and interviews. This approach allowed us to answer the central research question of this study: what alternative understandings do teachers have of the topic of electric and magnetic fields in terms of potential concept confusion? The teachers' understanding does appear to be interpretable in terms of whether or not they distinguish between the critical aspects identified in this study. The results show six categories of aspects of electric and magnetic fields causing teachers' inability to distinguish between the two fields, with a consequent confusion of concepts. These categories are: sources of currents; sources of electric fields; sources of magnetic fields; the effects of electric and magnetic fields on materials; electric and magnetic forces; and the direction of the electric and magnetic forces. Results from this research study may contribute to the enhancement of physical science teacher training and consequently school teaching.

Comparing Pedagogical Content Knowledge Across Fundamental Concepts of Electrostatics: A Case of Three Pre-service Teachers

“…This is a major misconception that is documented in the literature (e.g. Hekkenberg et al, 2015). She devised a 'teaching strategy' that addressed the misconception, suggesting asking: 'why is it that nothing happens when you put the ruler underneath [a piece of paper with iron filings] instead of magnets?'…”

A Cross Sectional Survey about Students Agreement Rates on Non-Scientific Ideas concerning the Concept of Magnet

“…In item 12, it was stated that all metals were attracted by the magnets. The research showed that teacher candidates (Ince & Yilmaz, 2012) and teachers (Burgoon et al, 2011;Hekkenberg, Lemmer, & Dekkers, 2015) also believed that all metals were attracted by the magnets as well as the students (Lemmer et al, 2018;Yuksel, 2011). The present study indicated about half of the elementary, middle and high school students agreed on this misconception in addition to nearly one quarter of the university students.…”

Examining Knowledge Levels of Prospective Physics Teachers Related to Conductors at Electrostatic Equilibrium and Electric Field Lines Using the Drawing Method

“…Hatta 2 öğretmen adayı, çizimini yük kavramı ile açıklamıştır. Elde edilen bu bulgu, alanyazında bulunan, öğrencilerin elektrik alan kavramını yük kavramı ile karıştırdıklarını gösteren çalışma bulgularıyla uyum göstermektedir (Hekkenberg, Lemmer, & Dekkers, 2015;Maloney, O'Kuma, Hieggelke, & Heuvelen, 2001;Planicic, 2006;Saarelainen, Laaksonen, & Hirvonen, 2007). Öğretmen adaylarının biri, elektrik alan çizgileri için kullanılan ok gösterimi için cismin yakınında ikinci bir yüke ihtiyaç duyduğunu belirtmiştir.…”

“…Bu araştırmaların sonunda elde edilen ortak bulgular, öğrencilerin elektrik alan kavramını manyetizma kavramlarıyla karıştırdıkları, elektrik alan çizgilerini yanlış yorumladıkları olmuştur (Maloney, O'Kuma, Hieggelke, & Heuvelen, 2001;Planicic, 2006;Saarelainen, Laaksonen, & Hirvonen, 2007). Benzer şekilde, fen bilimleri (fizik ve kimya) öğretmenleri ile yapılan bir çalışmada da öğretmenlerin elektrik alan ve manyetik alan kavramlarını karıştırdıklarını ortaya konulmuştur (Hekkenberg, Lemmer, & Dekkers, 2015). Öğrencilerin elektrik alan konusunu öğrenmelerinde yaşadıkları zorlukların nedeninin araştırıldığı çalışmalarda, öğrencilerin bu soyut kavramı algılamakta zorluk çekmeleri olduğu belirtilmiştir.…”