Misconceptions about renewable and non-renewable sources of energy

Abstract

There are many misconceptions when discussing a vast topic like renewable and non-renewable sources of energy. The aim of this research was to explore some misconceptions students may have at different levels of education. Male and female participants were chosen from Church and State secondary schools, Church and State Sixth Forms, and tertiary education institutions (participants reading for the courses Bachelor of Education in Science, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Engineering). Questionnaires were distributed to these groups of participants while interviews with relevant stakeholders (one engineer, one architect and civil engineer and three teachers of secondary education) were carried out to strengthen the discussions made. The study also discovered which method of learning the participants feel are used and the method of learning which the participants feel are effective; both of which were classroom explanations although this method was used more than needed. The questionnaires distributed were used to highlight misconceptions participants harboured. The discussion of results highlighted where the participants obtained most of their knowledge from, which misconceptions were dominant in one age group and which misconceptions are persistent in more than one age group.