Technology Support for Conceptual Change

Conceptual change has been among the most important aspects in education for the last few decades. There is no specific definition of conceptual change given its complex and unpredictable nature. However, from the learning perspective, conceptual change can be generally referred to as the process whereby learners change or alter their initial understandings or beliefs to become more closely aligned with scientifically held understandings of the concepts. From a broader perspective, conceptual change can also be referred to as the change in the understanding of the concepts learners have and the conceptual framework that encompasses these concepts. Conceptual change can take different forms, from ordinary change such as weak restructuring to more radical change, which usually requires change across ontological categories. This entry discusses how ...