Valerie Coskrey's Classroom Tools and Ideas

Lesson: Optical Illusions
-- The Brain Interprets Patterns

What do Optical Illusions and Scientific Methods have in common?

What is It?

Are you having trouble identifying this cartoon as a barnyard animal?

If you do not know which animal it is, look at this picture.

Your brain will complete the image based on

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cognitive science,
constructivism,
inquiry, or
optical illlusions.

your expriences and visual memories.

Much of our play, art, games and personal defense, even camoflauge, are all based on the brain's ability to perceive what should be there. Unfortunately we also develop prejudices based on these same expectations and pattern recognition tendencies.

Recognition of these tendencies is why scientists insist on using experimental methods that test expectations. Such reliance on data and experimentation is considered objective. The acceptance of data gathered through the 5 senses, or personal experience is called subjective. Often common sense explanations, often thought to be logical, are subjective.

Time and again the methods of science (Popper and Kuhn) have shown that much of our common sense or subjective knowledge can be inaccurate. The expections of such conclusions did not hold up when tested in a well-designed experiment. Of course, such is not always the case. But, it has happened often enough for our culture to insist on testing most ideas before accepting them. Logical fallacies and unfounded prejudices seldom survive rigourous testing.

Get the hands-on science teaching kit Minds Eye with booklet and materials for teaching about optical illusions. Designed for grades 4-10.

Being open-minded is part of training the brain to perceive more accurately.

This Google Gadget wll show optical illusions. It connects to a blog that features hundreds of optical illusions, including some really beautiful art. (Get your own free. Just click on the Google icon.)

Certain games and puzzles help train the brain in critical thinking and perception skills, as do educational toys.

Make The IQ Magic Puzzle Connection  

Puzzling Frog Box

Of course, magic tricks are based on the tendency of the brain to see patterns and the magician's skill in focusing the audience's attention on the images to create the patterns.

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modified 11/14/06

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Pig in Red Bandana, a Picket Fence Friend based on art of Wendy Sterling. return