A Private Universe - It will change your life!

Heads up: If you teach science, this post is very important for you and especially for your students.

I first watched the video "A Private Universe" several years ago in a summer workshop, and yes, it changed my life. If I had ANY lingering idea that science could be well-taught with lectures, textbooks, worksheets, and vocabulary lists, this film blew it out of the water! 

http://www.learner.org/newimages/resources/pic_privateuniverse.jpg

Here's Annenberg's description: "This video brings into sharp focus the dilemma facing all educators: Why don't even the brightest students truly grasp basic science concepts? Interviews are held with high school students and Ivy League graduates asking them to explain what causes the seasons and the phases of the moon. Even the brightest students in the class have false ideas based on enduring misconceptions that traditional instructional methods cannot overcome." (emphasis mine)

You MUST watch it if you haven't already seen it! Go to this link on the Annenberg Learner site, scroll down to A Private Universe, and click on the Video on Demand button. The video will open in a new window. It's only 20 minutes long, and worth every minute!

And once you've seen it, we'll be ready for more posts about hands-on, minds-on science...I have some great ideas waiting for you!

UPDATE: The links below will take you to the second and third posts in this series.
A Private Universe - Second in a Series
Teaching Science Through Inquiry - Last in the Series