misconceptions/discrepant events

Misconceptions refer to common, erroneous beliefs that students use to understand and explain the world around them. Such assumptions often become entrenched and resist modification by traditional instruction. A discrepant event is an experiment, demonstration, or other occurrence that challenges a misconception by producing a result counter to that predicted by the mistaken belief. When this happens, students are forced to reevaluate and adjust their conceptual framework in order to account for the discrepant event.