User model and modeling for human performance Essay

User model and modeling for human performance - Essay Example y arise due to incorrect assumptions made by students as well as improper presentation of stimuli, while Marjory Martin points out that students face difficulties in science and especially biology, because they represent abstract ideas which escape the students’ understanding (www.2ucsc.edu). Misconceptions occur in various areas but their detrimental effects are felt most acutely in the academic field, because it interferes with the progress that students are able in the development of cognitive skills and learning. Misconceptions that occur in the field of academic studies make it difficult for students to effectively assimilate their lessons and perform well, because these misconceptions function as a barrier that impedes the cognitive assimilation and understanding of concepts. The National Curriculum Council for Great Britain has pointed out some common student misconceptions in Algebra, such as treating letters as objects or completely ignoring their presence (www.learnquebec.ca). Misconceptions in the field of science occur mainly because of the difficulties students face in understanding everyday phenomena through abstract or symbolic representations. In biology, misconceptions occur because students are unable to grasp the concepts which they find to be too theoretical and abstract, especially in regard to concepts such as natural selection and evolution.(Burton and Dobson, 2009). According to Joan Solomon, students may also find it difficult to assimilate concepts because they may be associated with every day use, for example the word energy, and using concepts in science requires the interpretation of everyday phenomena in abstract terms, which may also involve the use of symbols to explain commonplace events(www.2ucsc.edu). In effect, there is some contextual learning that may have already taken place before a student attends classes and it becomes necessary to ensure that the student is able to learn how to learn through the use of concept