ERIC Number: ED501356
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2005
Pages: 16
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
More Misconceptions to Avoid When Teaching about Plants
Hershey, David R.
American Institute of Biological Sciences
As follow-up to a previous article "Avoid Misconceptions When Teaching about Plants," the author identifies fifty additional misconceptions. Undergeneralizations are added to the list of oversimplifications, obsolete concepts, terms, misidentifications, and flawed research. A glossary at the end of the article compares words used in botany with popular usage. The author states that plant misconceptions are common in textbooks, science project books, dictionaries, encyclopedias, science education journals, and educational websites. These published misconceptions may misinform large numbers of students and teachers, and he advocates that when revealed, misconceptions can be useful indicators of concepts that are potentially confusing to students. Given the frequency of published plant misconceptions, teachers must inform students about the problem. Students and teachers need to maintain a healthy skepticism about plant facts. The author recommends bionet.plants.education newsgroup as a good place for teachers to pose questions on suspected plant misconceptions.
Descriptors: Plants (Botany), Misconceptions, Botany, Science Education, Glossaries, Scientific Concepts
American Institute of Biological Sciences. 1444 I Street NW Suite 200, Washington, DC 20005. Tel: 202-628-1500; Fax: 202-628-1509; Web site: http://www.aibs.org
Publication Type: Opinion Papers; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: American Inst. of Biological Sciences, Washington, DC.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A