PERC 2012 Abstract Detail Page
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| Abstract Title: | Characterizing students’ use of resources in physics integration problems |
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| Abstract: | Developing the skills to set up integrals is critical for students' success in calculus-based physics courses. It requires a high level of understanding of both math and physics concepts. Previous studies have shown that students encounter a lot of difficulties when setting up integrals in the context of electricity and magnetism. However, the causes of students' difficulties have not been carefully studied in the past. In order to understand students' solutions and mistakes from the resources perspective, we conducted group teaching/learning interview sessions with 13 engineering students enrolled in a second semeter introductory calculus-based physics course. Then we categorized the mathematics and physics resources activated by students and used the representation of resource graphs to describe students' coordination of various resources. The findings of this study provide further insights into the difficulties students encountered when applying integration in physics. |
| Abstract Type: | Contributed Poster Presentation |
Author/Organizer Information | |
| Primary Contact: |
Dehui Hu Physics Department, Kansas State University 116 Cardwell Hall, Physics department Kansas State University Manhattan, KS 66506-2601 Phone: 785-532-6786 Fax: 785-532-6806 |
| Co-Author(s) and Co-Presenter(s) |
N. Sanjay Rebello, Kansas State University |
