Asia-Pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching, Volume 7, Issue 2, Article 1 (Dec., 2006) Shu-Chiu LIU Historical models and science instruction: A cross-cultural analysis based on students’ views Contents Next

Historical models and science instruction: A cross-cultural analysis based on students’ views

Shu-Chiu LIU

Physics Education & History and Philosophy of Science,
Institute of Physics, University of Oldenburg, 26111 Oldenburg, GERMANY

E-mail: shu-chiu.liu@gmx.org

Received 13 Oct., 2006
Revised 11 Dec., 2006

Contents

• Abstract
• Introduction
• Objectives
• Conceptions of the universe in early China and Europe
• Three early Chinese models
• The Greek “sphere making”
• From the Ptolemaic to Copernican universe
• Students’ models of the universe
• Instructional use of historical material
• Conclusion
• References

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Abstract

The paper is an extended work from a previous study on Taiwanese and German students’ conceptions of the universe (Liu, 2005). The study revealed that students discuss astronomical events and entities based on a mental model of universe and their models of the universe seem to have similar underlying principles with historical ones. In present paper, the author seeks to further analyze historical models of the two different cultural contexts, and elaborate the instructional use of these historical material based on students’ views.

 

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