A Study of the Level of Understanding and Misunderstanding After Studying “the Moon Phases”

—Based on the Analysis of Surveys of Actual High School and University Situations—

Abstract

Aiba (2016) indicated that instruction of the system of the moon phases might not be provided adequately due to the very little information in pattern diagrams in junior high school textbooks. In this research, some investigations were made with the cooperation of high school students and university students who had studied the moon phases, and the reasons for their misunderstanding of the moon phases was considered. Surprisingly, most of those students do not understand the system of the moon phases and the cause was found. This result supports Aiba (2016)’s analysis and could be a guide for teaching the system of the moon phases more effectively in the future.