Dr. Kimberly Tanner, San Francisco State University, Professor of Biology, Director of SEPAL (Science Education Partnership and Assessment Laboratory)

Title:  “Investigating Common Origins of Diverse Biological Misconceptions: Cognitive Science, Intuitive Reasoning, and the Development of Biological Thinking”

Abstract: Biology education researchers have documented persistent scientifically inaccurate ideas, often termed misconceptions, among biology students. Additionally, cognitive psychologists have described intuitive conceptual systems – teleological, essentialist, and anthropocentric thinking – that humans use to reason about biology. We have hypothesized that seemingly unrelated biological misconceptions may have common origins in these intuitive ways of knowing, termed cognitive construals. Recent findings support the hypothesis that biological misconceptions may indeed have origins in intuitive ways of knowing. Moreover, they raise the intriguing possibility that biology education may reify construal-based thinking and related misconceptions.  

View the seminar recording.

STEM Education Seminar: Dr. Kimberly Tanner from Yale EdTech on Vimeo.

The STEM Education Seminar & Journal Club Series is sponsored by the Helmsley Charitable Trust.