A Meta-study of Common Plant Biology Misconceptions Beyond Photosynthesis and Respiration

Authors

April N. Wynn, University of Mary Washington
Elizabeth E. Rueschhoff, Indiana University Southeast
Kathleen Archer, Trinity College
Irvin Pan, Stonehill College
Maryann Herman, St. John Fisher UniversityFollow

Document Type

Poster Presentation

Publication Date

7-2016

Abstract

Educational research indicates that eradicating misconceptions may require that instructors explicitly address and correct them. Knowing what these misconceptions are is an important first step. Numerous misconceptions surrounding photosynthesis and respiration have been reported, but published articles focused on other aspects of plant biology are less abundant and scattered in the literature. In order to identify other misconceptions, we extensively screened the literature and found various student misconceptions about plant nutrition, classification, diffusion and osmosis, water relationships, ecology, reproduction, genetics, growth, development, plant and cellular structure, and defense. While misconceptions may vary in type and complexity in these areas, they permeate all age groups and levels of education, from preschool through pre-service educators. To assist educators in correcting these misconceptions through curriculum development, we have mapped these misconceptions onto the Core Concepts for Plant Biology Education as delineated by the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) and the Botanical Society of America (BSA). Our mapping revealed a number of core concepts for which misconceptions have not been reported and warrant further research.

Comments

Presented at the American Society of Plant Biologists Annual Meeting in Austin Texas, July 2016.

Publication Information

Wynn, April N.; Rueschhoff, Elizabeth E.; Archer, Kathleen; Pan, Irvin; and Herman, Maryann, "A Meta-study of Common Plant Biology Misconceptions Beyond Photosynthesis and Respiration" (2016). Biology Faculty/Staff Publications. Paper 29.
https://fisherpub.sjf.edu/biology_facpub/29

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