Genetics meanings conveyed by films and formal education

Abstract

Genetics is one of the scientific topical aspects in the current society, but it hasbeen shown that it is one of the most difficult contents to learn and to teach in the formaleducation. The main aim of this paper is to find out whether the genetic concepts conveyedby films could generate or encourage students’ misconceptions in this area. To that end,three sources of conceptions were compared: students’ previous ideas, concepts presented byteachers and concepts conveyed by films. The study reveals that the concepts conveyed byfilms can reinforce students’ misconceptions and become learning barriers.