• QUESTIONS BEFORE LECTURE 1

now think about these

• Why did it take so long for people to understand the causes of the seasons and the phases of the moon?
• WHY DON'T MOST EDUCATED PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THEM???
• What are the most common preconceptions?
• Where do they come from?
• Is this what makes science "hard" to do, that the links between observation, hypothesis, and experiment in the scientific method aren't obvious?
• Why are some people better at it than others?
• Can we all train ourselves to "formulate the question" better when we observe something?
• Are you personally able to dump your preconceptions/misconceptions, or do you cling to them unwittingly?
• Finally, exactly what were your preconceptions or misconceptions about seasons and phases of the moon? That the earth is closer to the sun in summer? That the earth blocks part of the light to the moon, so we have the phases? Don't be embarassed...you're in excellent company! Just don't cling to misconceptions!