T174. Identifying and Addressing K-16 Student Misconceptions in the Earth-Science Classroom National Association of Geoscience Teachers Laura A. Guertin, Tanya Furman, Jason Petula, Scott McDonald K-16 student misconceptions range from factual and conceptual misunderstandings of content to the nature/process of scientific knowledge to what scientists are like. We seek presentations that highlight research and share classroom/laboratory activities addressing these misconceptions.

Studies why and how the behavior of simple systems— simple algorithms—becomes more complex and unpredictable as the energy/information the system dissipates increases. Logistic system: X next = rX (1-X) Logistic System evolves to equilibrium Logistic System evolves to complexity + -

Is imbedded within...

... studies how systems with many “agents” that are already at high energy/information dissipation interact and behave.

Units of friction along a fault zone

Sand grains in a migrating ripple

Complex systems modeling is a fundamental philosophical shift from the mathematical assumptions of classical physics/chemistry.

The more energy/information a system dissipates: IF the classical principle that systems evolve to greater disorder and lower energy states (the 2 nd Law) is right, then we should be living in a chaotic and disorganized world

The more energy/information a system dissipates: “The old idea of stable, slowly evolving climate was so widespread through the twentieth century – and died such a slow death – because it seemed to make the most sense. Abrupt change, in contrast, is so counterintuitive and so elusive that it is like a concert being played at a pitch beyond the range of human hearing.” John D. Cox, 2005, Climate Crash: Abrupt Climate Changes and What It Means for Our Future

The more energy/information a system dissipates:

The more energy/information a system dissipates:

Climate Institute: Extreme Weather The more energy/information a system dissipates:

New Madrid, Missouri Earthquakes

The more energy/information a system dissipates: Natural Disasters—Forecasting Economic and Life Losses Dr. Christopher Barton and Dr. Stuart Nishenko, U.S. Geological Survey

The more energy/information a system dissipates:

At high energy levels behavior becomes so complex it can appear random, the system has almost infinite behavior. The behavior is in fact not random, but it takes special mathematical lenses to see the patterns. The more energy/information a system dissipates: Equilibrium Theory

The more energy/information a system dissipates:

The more energy/information a system dissipates: Forrest and Haff, 1992, Mechanics of Wind Ripple Stratigraphy An agent based model

Equilibrium Theory

jmu.edu/geology/ComplexEvolutionarySystems/