Misconceptions Decoder: A Data-Driven Workshop for Middle School Science Teachers

Science is about making sense of the world—but when students develop misconceptions, they begin to see the world through faulty mental models. These misconceptions don’t just disappear over time; instead, they become barriers that prevent students from truly understanding key scientific ideas.

For example: 

❌ "Heavier objects fall faster than lighter ones." 

❌ "Boiling kills all bacteria, so cooked food never spoils." 

❌ "Electricity flows because electrons push each other along a wire like water in a pipe."

These errors are not random—they emerge because students try to make sense of science using everyday experiences and intuitive reasoning. Traditional teaching often fails to detect these errors early, leading to confusion in later grades.