Solving problems, especially in physics, has been well studied (e.g. Larkin, McDermott, Simon and Simon 1980: here and Chi, Glaser … More
Category: science
Using Multiple Choice Questions to Assess High-Level Thinking in Science
We are very good at assessing retrieval through multiple choice questions (MCQs): they are easy to write and quick to … More
Using Visual Representations to Help Solve Abstract Physics Problems
By year 6, pupils are skilled mathematical problem solvers. They can solve multi-step questions involving abstract concepts. This sounds like … More
Using Physics Questions to Build Problem Solving, Literacy and Knowledge.
A few weeks ago I observed an English teacher pull a sentence apart. A line from Romeo and Juliette was … More
When knowledge is wrong…
Babies are born knowing physics. They express surprise when an object appears to be suspended in mid-air or pass through … More
What are the Cognitive Loads of reading and how can we reduce them?
Reading is a physics problem that doesn’t receive much attention in class. I think it should. Science professionals read a … More
Haven’t We Got Enough To Do Already? Why Science Teachers Should Teach Vocabulary and How to Make it Stick
There are words in the English language that science teachers wish the English department would teach – words like … More
Science: A Great Source of Metaphor…
Have you got time to read two very short science texts? Both of them are surprising and wonderful. First text: a … More
Imaginary Ice Block Discovered in School Field Causes Writing and Reading
The whole of this blog centres on a mean trick (and I feel bad about it), which has produced something special, … More
Guericke’s Sulphur Sphere
It seems reasonable to suppose that if the Earth has a fitting and appropriate attractive potency it will also have … More
