ERIC Number: EJ1033884
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1554-9178
EISSN: N/A
Partial Derivative Games in Thermodynamics: A Cognitive Task Analysis
Kustusch, Mary Bridget; Roundy, David; Dray, Tevian; Manogue, Corinne A.
Physical Review Special Topics - Physics Education Research, v10 n1 p010101-1-010101-16 Jan-Jun 2014
Several studies in recent years have demonstrated that upper-division students struggle with the mathematics of thermodynamics. This paper presents a task analysis based on several expert attempts to solve a challenging mathematics problem in thermodynamics. The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, we highlight the importance of cognitive task analysis for understanding expert performance and show how the epistemic games framework can be used as a tool for this type of analysis, with thermodynamics as an example. Second, through this analysis, we identify several issues related to thermodynamics that are relevant to future research into student understanding and learning of the mathematics of thermodynamics.
Descriptors: Thermodynamics, Science Instruction, Mathematics, Task Analysis, Problem Solving, Cognitive Processes, Games, Scientific Concepts, Equations (Mathematics), Mathematical Concepts, Teaching Methods, College Mathematics, Undergraduate Study
American Physical Society. One Physics Ellipse 4th Floor, College Park, MD 20740-3844. Tel: 301-209-3200; Fax: 301-209-0865; e-mail: assocpub@aps.org; Web site: http://prst-per.aps.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: DUE 0088901; 0837829; 1023120