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ERIC Number: EJ1131502
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1792-8788
EISSN: N/A
History of Physics and Conceptual Constructions: The Case of Magnetism
Voutsina, Lambrini; Ravanis, Konstantinos
Themes in Science and Technology Education, v4 n1 p1-20 2011
This study documents the mental representations of magnetism constructed by students aged 15-17 and attempts to investigate whether these display the characteristics of models with an inner cohesiveness and constancy; whether they share common features with typical historical models of the Sciences; and whether they evolve through conventional teaching. Using the part of the history of physics that refers to magnetism and the research data available, we put together a questionnaire and carried out structured interviews with a total of 40 students from the 10th and 11th grades. The results showed that a small number of students is able to express reasoning within the framework of a structured model by which to approach magnetic phenomena and that this reasoning changes according to the teaching received. We also observed similarities between some of the students' representations and those of scientists from the past, though not of a wide range.
Themes in Science and Technology Education. The Educational Approaches to Virtual Reality Technologies Laboratory, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, GR 45110, Greece. Tel: +30-2651005697; Fax: +30-2651005854; Web site: http://earthlab.uoi.gr/theste
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education; Grade 10; Grade 11
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Greece
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A