Students can move from one misconception to another misconception on their journey to scientifically accurate conceptions. Use of Item Response Theory. Video of Harvard graduates and middle school students describing seasons and moon phases using faulty mental models. One of a series of seminal papers from physics education describing how educational research is used to create research-based curriculum materials. Students think gravity is determined by proximity to Sun and rotation rate of planets.
Students believe that moon phases are caused by Earth's shadow.
The same effective approaches used with children work well with in-service teachers to build confidence as well as knowledge. Extensive description of what constructivism looks like in astronomy. Using hands-on activities founded in constructivism, elementary teachers significantly increased their astronomy knowledge and attitudes toward teaching it. Teachers who learned astronomy in a specially designed course maintained positive attitudes, values, and interests four years after the experience. Students think gravity is determined by proximity to Sun and rotation rate of planets.