Conceptual change

Conceptual change

Description of conceptual change

The conceptual change process

The representation of internal conceptual models

Theories of conceptual change

Description of conceptual change

• The cognitive process of adapting and restructuring personal theories explaining the external world is conceptual change

• Occurs when learners change their understanding of the concepts they use and of the conceptual frameworks they are embedded in.

• Arises from the interaction between learners’ experiences and learners’ conceptions while engaged in problem solving or some higher order cognitive activity.

• Learners must have a task that requires reconceptualization.• The amount and kinds of conceptual change depend on the learner’s:

Prior knowledge Individuality Usefulness of the content being studied Context in which the content are studied

The conceptual change process

• The conceptual change process is: A revolutionary process when information is inconsistent with learners’

beliefs and assumptions so revision of conceptual frameworks is necessary. An evolutionary process of adding concepts and reorganizing knowledge

structures to include new concepts

The representation of internal conceptual models

• Technologies can be used to construct models that represent learners’ internal conceptual models

• Learners build and alter their models as they are constructing knowledge by changing their conceptions of what they are learning.

Theories of conceptual change

Cognitive conflict theory

Revisionist theory

Cognitive conflict theory (1)

• In order to understand something: Learners must experience a discrepancy between what they know and what

they expect. Learners’ current conceptions must be inadequate to interpret their

experiences or to solve problems. Learners must therefore experience conceptual conflict.

• Conceptual change may result from cognitive conflict when discrepant, dissonant or anomalous data or events call into question learners’ current understanding.

• Conceptual change may occur when learners are confronted with information that contradicts their existing conceptualizations.

• Conceptual change occurs when there is an: Awareness of a contradiction Awareness of a need for change

Cognitive conflict theory (2)

• Factors that influence cognitive change: Learners who possess low domain knowledge have difficulty noticing

contradictions between their own conceptions and scientifically acceptable ones.

Learners with low interest are unlikely to engage in cognitive change. Learners who are interested and possess understanding are more willing to

change their concepts.• Cognitive conflict must be supported by knowledge-building activities.

Most powerful knowledge building activity is model building.• Teachers who over-simplify ideas to make them more easily communicable rob

learners of meaningful understanding.

Revisionist theory of conceptual change

• Conceptual change is a rational process in which theories are judged by how successfully they solve a range of intellectual problems.

• If theories and conceptions are insufficient to solve a given problem, dissatisfaction increase.

• When dissatisfaction is addressed, conceptual change begins to occur.• There are two stages of understanding:

Minimal and full understanding: understanding conceptions minimally or fully.

Accommodation: using conceptions and changing conceptions.