Author Topic: Science requires overcoming childhood understanding (Read 2025 times)

Chairboy · « **on:** May 21, 2007, 08:29:47 PM »

Read an interesting article about a paper today:

http://arstechnica.com/journals/science.ars/2007/05/21/science-education-requires-overcoming-childhood-understanding

The basic idea is that kids form their own mistaken understanding of how things work at an early age, and that mysticism, astrology, and stuff like that is a side effect of this. It makes some interesting observations, thought some of you might find it interesting (at least, those who don't call to have me burned as a witch).

DiabloTX · « **Reply #1 on:** May 21, 2007, 08:30:55 PM »

Well, that certainly explains lasersailor....

Chairboy · « **Reply #2 on:** May 21, 2007, 08:31:57 PM »

Ha! PWND!

GtoRA2 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 21, 2007, 09:10:35 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by DiabloTX
Well, that certainly explains lasersailor....

LOL!:rofl

AKIron · « **Reply #4 on:** May 21, 2007, 09:23:15 PM »

"The authors cited a paper that showed that many college students erroneously believe that a ball traveling through a curved tube will continue to travel on a curved path once it exits."

This author may not have cosidered that a ball rolling through a curved tube will in fact be spinning when it exits said tube and a spinning ball will curve after leaving the tube. Wondering who the real dummy is here.

lasersailor184 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 21, 2007, 10:25:28 PM »

It really was a pointless editorial, with very cleverly hidden agendas.

Basically it says that as children, we believe things work the way we perceive them to until we choose to prove those beliefs otherwise. This is pretty much understood by everyone.

However, it insinuates that the parents control over what the child can learn could be damn near criminal because of content.

The author also fails to recognize what a choice is. And in the process, derides and insults at least half of the american population. He states that nearly most Americans trust the scientists, but only half believe them. He insults their intelligence, based on the simple fact that while they can trust him, they can choose to follow a different path.

If the author had continued to write for one more paragraph, he would have been demanding thought legislation and more control being taken away from parents.

Chairboy · « **Reply #6 on:** May 21, 2007, 10:28:21 PM »

Goodness, telepathy must be real, 'cuz Laser claims he can read the authors mind! Fascinating!

L'EMMERDEUR · « **Reply #7 on:** May 22, 2007, 11:38:30 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by DiabloTX
Well, that certainly explains lasersailor....

I dunno lasersailor but it explains the Jebus people and the global warming deniers and all the other irrationals. Remember truth is not important. It's truthiness that matters. Objective facts? Sorry factinistas, I'm going with my gut!

moot · « **Reply #8 on:** May 22, 2007, 12:52:48 PM »

Narrowing things down to a single variable is a method I remember recognizing as the only way to know something for sure from as far back as my memories go. It appeared far back enough that at the time it seemed my own idea.

The bit about earth's roundness being unimagineable, or out of reach of someone's mind till 8 years old... All you need to do is watch some scifi, or a zoom out from common to planetary scales, e.g. something like that documentary segment with the nano-scale to comsic-scale zooming.
A view from high enough will also reveal the curve in as as natural and credible a way as watching birds' poop fall down or any other more relate-able scene...

I do agree that learning/plasticity is something that solidifies, or gets into too much of a groove or mold, too quickly. Still too quickly for man's own good, in my opinion.

AKIron · « **Reply #9 on:** May 22, 2007, 02:42:17 PM »

I always find it amusing when someone mocks another for ignorance when it is the mocker who is truly the ignorant one as in the curving ball story. Things may not always be as simple as even those who claim to be scientists often think.

L'EMMERDEUR · « **Reply #10 on:** May 22, 2007, 05:32:23 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by AKIron
This author may not have cosidered that a ball rolling through a curved tube will in fact be spinning when it exits said tube and a spinning ball will curve after leaving the tube. Wondering who the real dummy is here.

A ball which exits a curved tube is does not necessarily spin. And a spinning ball does not necessarily curve.

AKIron · « **Reply #11 on:** May 22, 2007, 06:50:35 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by L'EMMERDEUR
A ball which exits a curved tube is does not necessarily spin. And a spinning ball does not necessarily curve.

I agree. However, the question posed to the college students did not specify abnormal conditions. Under circumstances which any reasonable person might be expected to assume, a ball shot through a curved tube will contact the outer side of the tube which will impart a spin to the ball. Any nomal ball (which does not have a theortically smooth surface) will curve through the air if it is spinning sufficiently fast enough.

I think the author of that article, and probably the test creator, thought the students erroneously expected the ball to continue following the same path as that established by the tube because the tube imparted some sort of curving inertia. It appears to me that they didn't understand all of the dynamics involved sufficiently well enough to judge another's knowledge.

lasersailor184 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 22, 2007, 07:02:11 PM »

Even through out all these times, why can't people understand that's is as simple as a choice. You can't control what people choose.

AKIron · « **Reply #13 on:** May 22, 2007, 07:10:39 PM »

Maybe we can get eskimo to test the ball through a tube thing and make us a video?

ROC · « **Reply #14 on:** May 22, 2007, 08:10:29 PM »

A study that shows Pre-School age children have a hard time with the function of the brain. They are aware of the Brain being involved in math, but not the imagination aspect of pretending to be a Kangaroo. What a moron, most pre-schoolers think they Are Kangaroos, who's pretending??

Science and Education is nothing BUT overcoming childhood understandings! How much did this joker get paid to figure That one out.