Life science is often about understanding complex systems- from
human body systems to ecosystems to evolution. These are notoriously
difficult to understand because it requires understanding how
structures relate to functions and what the behaviors of the
system are. Understanding a system involves considering the
causal interactions and functional relationships among the parts
of the system. Some interactions between parts are invisible
and have a time sequence that makes them difficult to perceive.
Even adults struggle to learn about complex systems (Feltovich
et al., 1992). Yet such understanding is often critical to scientific
analysis. The behaviors of the individual elements interact
in such a way that the overall function of the system emerges
from the behaviors of the components. These difficulties may
be aggravated by the static depictions found in typical textbooks
that focus on structures without considering the dynamic behaviors
and function. It is not surprising then that learners often
focus exclusively on perceptually apparent structures. This
oversimplification of complex phenomenon that can cause enduring
misconceptions (Feltovich et al., 1992).
human body systems to ecosystems to evolution. These are notoriously
difficult to understand because it requires understanding how
structures relate to functions and what the behaviors of the
system are. Understanding a system involves considering the
causal interactions and functional relationships among the parts
of the system. Some interactions between parts are invisible
and have a time sequence that makes them difficult to perceive.
Even adults struggle to learn about complex systems (Feltovich
et al., 1992). Yet such understanding is often critical to scientific
analysis. The behaviors of the individual elements interact
in such a way that the overall function of the system emerges
from the behaviors of the components. These difficulties may
be aggravated by the static depictions found in typical textbooks
that focus on structures without considering the dynamic behaviors
and function. It is not surprising then that learners often
focus exclusively on perceptually apparent structures. This
oversimplification of complex phenomenon that can cause enduring
misconceptions (Feltovich et al., 1992).