Chapter 05: Understanding How to Teach Physics Understanding

Title

Chapter 05: Understanding How to Teach Physics Understanding

Editors

Mark A. McDaniel, Regina F. Frey, Susan M. Fitzpatrick, & Henry L. Roediger III

Files

Link to Full Text

Link to PDF Full Text

Description

Physics courses often assess understanding in terms of problem-solving performance. However, many students who do well in a physics course do not understand the underlying concepts and principles, leading to poor retention and transfer. The students’ problem solving relies on superficial aspects of the problem and chaining of possible equations. We propose an intervention to integrate the conceptual understanding with the problem solving, forcing the problem solving to be guided by the underlying principle(s). More specifically, the approach requires students to identify the principle, justify why this principle is appropriate, plan how to solve the problem, and, finally, implement the plan in terms of equations. Initial results with this intervention in high schools are encouraging: Students gain greater understanding and also perform better on the usual problem-solving tasks. We suggest some improvements that might be made to the approach and consider its generality for other STEM disciplines.

Document Type

Chapter

ISBN

978-1-941823-00-2 (MOBI), 978-1-941823-01-9 (ePub), 978-1-941823-02-6 (PDF)

Publication Date

9-10-2014

Publisher

Washington University Libraries

City

Saint Louis

Disciplines

Cognitive Neuroscience | Cognitive Psychology | Educational Psychology | Engineering Education | Higher Education | Higher Education and Teaching | Science and Mathematics Education | Teacher Education and Professional Development

Comments

Chapter 5, Integrating Cognitive Science with Innovative Teaching in STEM Disciplines. Chapter DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7936/K79G5JR7. Link to complete book available at: http://openscholarship.wustl.edu/books/9/ Complete book available for purchase through Amazon and Apple. For information about alternative versions, please contact digital@wumail.wustl.edu. Arranged for publication, sale, and distribution in electronic and print form by Washington University Libraries. All articles Copyright © 2014 by the individual authors.

Chapter 05: Understanding How to Teach Physics Understanding

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