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Thompson, John R.; Christensen, Warren M.; Wittmann, Michael C. – Physical Review Special Topics - Physics Education Research, 2011
We describe courses designed to help future teachers reflect on and discuss both physics content and student knowledge thereof. We use three kinds of activities: reading and discussing the literature, experiencing research-based curricular materials, and learning to use the basic research methods of physics education research. We present a general…
Descriptors: Research Methodology, Physics, Pedagogical Content Knowledge, Course Descriptions
Christensen, Warren M.; Thompson, John R. – Physical Review Special Topics - Physics Education Research, 2012
By analysis of student use of mathematics in responses to conceptual physics questions, as well as analogous math questions stripped of physical meaning, we have previously found evidence that students often enter upper-level physics courses lacking the assumed prerequisite mathematics knowledge and/or the ability to apply it productively in a…
Descriptors: Physics, Mathematics, Fundamental Concepts, Mathematical Concepts
Springuel, R. Padraic; Wittman, Michael C.; Thompson, John R. – Physical Review Special Topics - Physics Education Research, 2007
We use clustering, an analysis method not presently common to the physics education research community, to group and characterize student responses to written questions about two-dimensional kinematics. Previously, clustering has been used to analyze multiple-choice data; we analyze free-response data that includes both sketches of vectors and…
Descriptors: Physics, Statistical Analysis, Multivariate Analysis, College Students
Smith, Trevor I.; Christensen, Warren M.; Mountcastle, Donald B.; Thompson, John R. – Physical Review Special Topics - Physics Education Research, 2015
We report on several specific student difficulties regarding the second law of thermodynamics in the context of heat engines within upper-division undergraduate thermal physics courses. Data come from ungraded written surveys, graded homework assignments, and videotaped classroom observations of tutorial activities. Written data show that students…
Descriptors: Undergraduate Students, Science Education, College Science, Physics
Smith, Trevor I.; Mountcastle, Donald B.; Thompson, John R. – Physical Review Special Topics - Physics Education Research, 2015
We present results of our investigation into student understanding of the physical significance and utility of the Boltzmann factor in several simple models. We identify various justifications, both correct and incorrect, that students use when answering written questions that require application of the Boltzmann factor. Results from written data…
Descriptors: Science Instruction, Scientific Concepts, Comprehension, Concept Formation
Smith, Trevor I.; Thompson, John R.; Mountcastle, Donald B. – Physical Review Special Topics - Physics Education Research, 2013
One goal of physics instruction is to have students learn to make physical meaning of specific mathematical expressions, concepts, and procedures in different physical settings. As part of research investigating student learning in statistical physics, we are developing curriculum materials that guide students through a derivation of the Boltzmann…
Descriptors: Science Instruction, Mechanics (Physics), Mathematics, Scientific Concepts