Misconceptions

While wearing his professor robes Southern Man has tried something different this semester. He'll give a surprise quiz on the topic to be covered that lecture - graded by participation - collect them, and then present lecture and entertain discussion. Then at the beginning of the next lecture he gives the exact same quiz, this time for a grade, and to see the effect that lecture and discussion has on whatever preconceptions or misinformation the students brought into the class.

The outcome has been the same in every single class: the answers don't change much at all. Student misconceptions are apparently impervious to correction.

This isn't entirely a surprise; Southern Man has known for years how deeply rooted world views can be, even for kids, and works hard to get the students to challenge their existing pnotions before introducing new ones. What is surprising is just how resilient these views can be. It does, however, make teaching eternally interesting.