Abstract
I discuss some observations from using interactive-engagement instructional methods in an upper-level thermal physics course over a two-year period. From the standpoint of the subject matter knowledge of the upper-level students, there was a striking persistence of common learning difficulties previously observed in students enrolled in the introductory course, accompanied, however, by some notable contrasts between the groups. More broadly, I comment on comparisons and contrasts regarding general pedagogical issues among different student sub-populations, for example: differences in the receptivity of lower- and upper-level students to diagrammatic representations; varying receptivity to tutorial-style instructional approach within the upper-level population; and contrasting approaches to learning among physics and engineering sub-populations in the upper-level course with regard to use of symbolic notation, mathematical equations, and readiness to employ verbal explanations.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | AIP Conference Proceedings |
| Pages | 31-34 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Volume | 1179 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2009 |
| Event | 2009 Physics Education Research Conference, PER: Physics Education Research across Paradigms - Ann Arbor, MI, United States Duration: Jul 29 2009 → Jul 30 2009 |
Other
| Other | 2009 Physics Education Research Conference, PER: Physics Education Research across Paradigms |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| City | Ann Arbor, MI |
| Period | 7/29/09 → 7/30/09 |
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Keywords
- Physics education
- Thermodynamics
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
Cite this
Observations of general learning patterns in an upper-level thermal physics course. / Meltzer, David.
AIP Conference Proceedings. Vol. 1179 2009. p. 31-34.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
}
TY - GEN
T1 - Observations of general learning patterns in an upper-level thermal physics course
AU - Meltzer, David
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - I discuss some observations from using interactive-engagement instructional methods in an upper-level thermal physics course over a two-year period. From the standpoint of the subject matter knowledge of the upper-level students, there was a striking persistence of common learning difficulties previously observed in students enrolled in the introductory course, accompanied, however, by some notable contrasts between the groups. More broadly, I comment on comparisons and contrasts regarding general pedagogical issues among different student sub-populations, for example: differences in the receptivity of lower- and upper-level students to diagrammatic representations; varying receptivity to tutorial-style instructional approach within the upper-level population; and contrasting approaches to learning among physics and engineering sub-populations in the upper-level course with regard to use of symbolic notation, mathematical equations, and readiness to employ verbal explanations.
AB - I discuss some observations from using interactive-engagement instructional methods in an upper-level thermal physics course over a two-year period. From the standpoint of the subject matter knowledge of the upper-level students, there was a striking persistence of common learning difficulties previously observed in students enrolled in the introductory course, accompanied, however, by some notable contrasts between the groups. More broadly, I comment on comparisons and contrasts regarding general pedagogical issues among different student sub-populations, for example: differences in the receptivity of lower- and upper-level students to diagrammatic representations; varying receptivity to tutorial-style instructional approach within the upper-level population; and contrasting approaches to learning among physics and engineering sub-populations in the upper-level course with regard to use of symbolic notation, mathematical equations, and readiness to employ verbal explanations.
KW - Physics education
KW - Thermodynamics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=71749114649&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=71749114649&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1063/1.3266745
DO - 10.1063/1.3266745
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:71749114649
SN - 9780735407206
VL - 1179
SP - 31
EP - 34
BT - AIP Conference Proceedings
ER -