TITLE:
Overcoming Students’ Misconceptions on Forces in Equilibrium: An Action Research Study
AUTHORS:
Lilia Halim, Tan Kia Yong, Tamby Subahan Mohd Meerah
KEYWORDS:
Collaborative Action Research, Students’ Misconception, Teaching Instruction, Physics, Forces
JOURNAL NAME:
Creative Education,
Vol.5 No.11,
June
25,
2014
ABSTRACT: This collaborative action research involving a supervisor and a student
teacher aims to assist 23 Form Four (16 years old) students to overcome their
misconceptions on the topic of forces in
equilibrium state. This study adopts the action research cycle: Identify-Plan-Act-Reflect.
The pre-test results showed that students had problems in recognizing the
forces. Consequently, a teaching intervention was planned and carried out to
improve students’ ability to identify and recognize the forces that exist for an
object in the equilibrium state. The teaching intervention emphasizes on the
basic characteristics of the force arrow namely the direction, magnitude, labeling
and starting point of force. The post test results showed that students’
ability to draw the force arrows correctly had improved, with the exception of
identifying the starting point of force. The action research study managed to
guide the student teacher to identify and help to overcome misconceptions of
her students.