AN INVESTIGATION OF MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ALTERNATIVE CONCEPTIONS OFGLOBAL WARMING

Because global warming presents a serious potential threat to our bios phere, it is receiving considerable attention by scientists, policy ma kers, and educators. This article presents alternative conceptions abo ut global warming held by a sample of 24 grade 6 to 8 students. Studen ts completed interviews on global warming approximately two weeks afte r instruction from a Science-Technology-Society (STS) global warming u nit. The majority of students introduced 'ozone layer' or 'ultraviolet radiation' in response to the question, 'When you think about global warming, what comes to mind?' Approximately one-half of the students h eld the alternative conceptions that ozone layer depletion is a major cause of global warming and that carbon dioxide destroys the ozone lay er. These and other alternative conceptions evidenced by the students suggest that global warming instruction should help students clarify t hat ozone layer depletion and global warming are different environment al problems and that the ozone 'hole' does nor enhance the greenhouse effect.