Learning isn’t simply about adding new facts. It often requires a restructuring of existing ideas.
In education, students frequently hold misconceptions, inaccurate or incomplete understandings of certain concepts that get in the way of deeper learning and future success.
True learning happens when these misconceptions are identified, challenged, and replaced with scientifically correct concepts.
In order to fight misconceptions, educators need to be aware of the conceptual change that helps students change the foundation of their conceptual understanding.
It allows them to actively engage with content and reflect on their own thinking.
This article will explain what conceptual change is, why it’s crucial in fighting misconceptions, and which evidence‑based strategies help students shift from misconceptions to accurate understanding, in online or general education alike.
What Are Misconceptions and Why They Matter
A misconception is a belief that contradicts well‑established scientific understanding.
Misconceptions arise from everyday experiences, intuitive reasoning, media exposure, or prior instruction and can be deeply rooted in a student’s thinking.
These misconceptions are not simply errors.
They can form mental models that persist even after traditional instruction.
If left unaddressed, they can block further learning or lead students to new misunderstandings.
For example, many students, even in upper grades, may believe heavier objects fall down faster than lighter ones even though without air resistance all objects fall at the same rate.
Unless this misconception is confronted directly, new physics concepts remain difficult to learn.
Understanding Conceptual Change
Conceptual change refers to the cognitive process in which students replace or revise their existing ideas with new, scientifically supported concepts.
It differs from pure memorizing of facts. It involves restructuring knowledge so that new information fits into a coherent framework.
Strategies to Overcome Misconceptions in Online Learning
Research in education highlights several strategies that online K-12 schools can apply to promote conceptual change.
Use Refutation Texts to Target Specific Misconceptions
Refutation texts explicitly state a common misconception, explain why it is incorrect, and present the correct scientific explanation.
This format prompts learners to compare their existing beliefs with evidence, facilitating conceptual change.
Research consistently shows that refutation texts are effective way of fighting misconceptions and aiding the conceptual change that significantly helps in “fixing” the accuracy of the prior understanding of certain concepts. (Source)
Traditional and online schools alike can implement refutation texts in a straightforward way.
Instead of simply presenting the information, students can be asked to say or write down their current understanding of the concept that are being taught.
A refutation text can be paired with interactive discussion prompts or short quizzes that ask students to justify why their old ideas were inadequate.
Incorporate Interactive Simulations to Spur Cognitive Conflict
Interactive visualizations and simulations allow learners to test their predictions and compare outcomes with real scientific behavior.
When results conflict with students’ assumptions, they experience cognitive conflict, which strengthens conceptual change.
Research in physics education shows that combining interactive simulations with inquiry‑based instruction leads to greater conceptual understanding than traditional teaching methods. (Source)
Online platforms, that are utilized in our EduWW online k-12 programs, can provide students with interactive simulations that challenge their misconceptions.
For example, physics simulations can visually demonstrate how objects of different masses fall at the same rate in a vacuum. This visual conflict with their prior understanding pushes students to reconsider their ideas.
Promote Cognitive Conflict Through Inquiry Activities
Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) is a student-centered instructional approach where learners actively investigate questions, problems, or phenomena rather than passively receiving information.
Instead of:
“Here is the rule. Memorize it.”
IBL asks:
“What do you notice? Why might this happen? How can we test it?”
Inquiry‑based learning encourages students to ask questions, gather data, and explain findings.
When students’ predictions differ from observed results, they are more likely to question their prior beliefs and reconstruct their understanding.
Scaffold Explanations and Provide Targeted Feedback
Students do not change misconceptions instantly.
Effective instruction breaks complex topics into smaller chunks and offers immediate feedback, helping students progressively restructure their understanding.
Scaffolding helps students move from a wrong idea to the correct one. It is done by giving them structured support in the form of comparing old belief with new evidence and explaining the difference until they can understand and explain it independently themselves.
For example:
Misconception: Heavier objects fall faster.
Direct explanation process would go:
- Teacher says: “All objects fall at the same rate in a vacuum.”
- Student writes it down.
- No discussion of the original belief.
- No guided reasoning.
- Student may memorize but still believe the old idea.
Scaffolding would go:
- Ask: “Which object do you think will fall faster?”
- Show simulation where both land at the same time.
- Ask: “Was your prediction correct?”
- Guide with questions:
- “What force acts on both objects?”
- “Does mass affect gravitational acceleration?”
- Student explains the correct reasoning.
- Later: Student explains it independently without prompts.
Online platforms can track responses and provide adaptive feedback when students apply concepts incorrectly.
Encourage Reflection and Metacognition
Reflection prompts students to examine how their thinking has changed. When learners articulate what they believed before and why they now understand differently, conceptual change is reinforced.
It can be done by asking students to write a short reflection after an activity, comparing their initial prediction with what they learned.
Personalized Learning Paths
Advanced online systems use adaptive technology to personalize the learning experience.
Students struggling with specific concepts receive tailored lessons and practice, targeting their misconceptions and learning needs.
Why Online K-12 Schools Are Effective at Promoting Conceptual Change
Online K-12 schools are particularly well-equipped to tackle misconceptions for several reasons:
Access to Diverse Educational Tools
Unlike traditional classrooms that rely heavily on textbooks and lectures, online schools can integrate videos, simulations, quizzes, and interactive activities.
These tools help students see and experience concepts in dynamic ways, which is crucial for breaking down false ideas.
Self-Paced Learning
Conceptual change requires time. That is where self-paced learning comes in.
Students often need to wrestle with new ideas before accepting them.
Online learning allows students to pause, revisit, and review challenging topics as needed which is something difficult to achieve in a fast-paced classroom environment.
Data-Driven Instruction
Online platforms collect detailed data on student performance, helping teachers and the system identify where misconceptions occur.
This targeted feedback enables more efficient interventions than might be possible in a traditional setting.
Global Access to Experts and Resources
Online K-12 schools often connect students with expert teachers, specialized resources, and global learning communities.
Exposure to multiple explanations and viewpoints can help dismantle persistent misconceptions.
Conclusion
Conceptual change is a critical part of learning, especially in K-12 education.
Misconceptions can prevent students from fully grasping complex ideas.
Still, with the help of interactive materials, scaffolded lessons, and personalized learning paths, online education is well-equipped to address these challenges.
As technology advances, online K-12 schools continue to refine their approaches, ensuring that students not only learn facts but also develop a deep, accurate understanding of the world around them.
