E. About Alternative Ideas

• Research has shown that while biologists have developed many theories to explain aspects of living things, these theories are often not known by non-biologists.
• Further, it has become clear that children and adults formulate their own theories to explain various biological phenomena. These theories are often called 'naive theories' or 'alternative conceptions' or 'misconceptions'.
• An interesting aspect of these alternative ideas is that, for each topic examined, there are generally just a few prevalent alternative conceptions. These ideas might be held by as much as 20 - 60% of any naive population. They are often culture-independent, being shared by individuals across the nation and around the world.
• Alternative conceptions are often firmly entrenched in an individual's cognitive structure and therefore not easily taught away. Direct instruction (telling) is usually insufficient.
• A teacher should be aware of prevalent alternative conceptions regarding a topic to be taught and should have some strategies planned for helping to promote conceptual change in students who hold such alternative ideas.
• Our tables of alternative ideas and corresponding scientific ideas are just a beginning.

We welcome your input regarding additional alternative conceptions.

Part 1, Molecules and Cells

1.1 Properties of Water
1.2 Elements, Atoms and the Periodic Table
1.3 Building Molecules from Atoms
1.4 Basic Processes
1.5 Osmosis
1.6 Pattern Matching (classes of organic molecules)
1.7 Cells
1.8 Mitosis

Part 2, Population Biology

2.1 How Does a Green Plant Grow?

2.2 Owl Pellets

2.3 Chaparral Community

2.4 How Do Organisms Vary?

2.5 How Do Organisms Reproduce?

2.6 How Do Flowering Plants Reproduce?

2.7 How Do Populations Grow?

2.8 How Do Populations Change Over Time?

Authors and Acknowledgements

Correspondence