Characterizing student use of differential resources in physics integration problems

Hu, Dehui; Rebello, N. Sanjay

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Characterizing student use of differential resources in physics integration problems

written by Dehui Hu and N. Sanjay Rebello

Developing the skills to set up integrals is critical for students' success in calculus-based physics courses. It requires a high level 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 a resources perspective, we conducted group teaching/learning interviews with 13 engineering students enrolled in second-semester calculus-based physics. We identified mathematics and physics resources activated by students and used the resource graph representation to describe students' coordination of various resources. The findings of this study provide further insights into students' difficulties with physics problems requiring integration.

Physics Education Research Conference 2012
Part of the PER Conference series
Philadelphia, PA: August 1-2, 2012
Volume 1513, Pages 186-189

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Published: January 24, 2013

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Education Foundations - Alternative Conceptions - Cognition - Problem Solving = Processes Mathematical Tools - Calculus = Integral	- Lower Undergraduate	- Reference Material = Research study

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Mirror:: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4789683
Access Rights:: Free access and
Available for purchase; A preprint of the work is available. A hard copy of the PERC 2012 proceedings is available for purchase from the AIP.
Restriction:: © 2012 American Institute of Physics
DOI:: 10.1063/1.4789683
NSF Number:: 0816207
PACS:: 01.40.Fk
Keywords:: PERC 2012, mathematics, problem solving, resources
Record Cloner:: Metadata instance created June 26, 2013 by Zachary Davis
Record Updated:: June 1, 2015 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update when Cataloged:: January 24, 2013
Other Collections:: The PER-Central

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<a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=12807">Hu, Dehui, and N. Sanjay Rebello. "Characterizing student use of differential resources in physics integration problems." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2012, Philadelphia, PA, August 1-2, 2012.</a>

AIP Format

D. Hu and N. Rebello, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2012, Philadelphia, PA, 2012, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=12807&DocID=3341).

AJP/PRST-PER

D. Hu and N. Rebello, Characterizing student use of differential resources in physics integration problems, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2012, Philadelphia, PA, 2012, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=12807&DocID=3341>.

APA Format

Hu, D., & Rebello, N. (2012, August 1-2). Characterizing student use of differential resources in physics integration problems. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2012, Philadelphia, PA. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=12807&DocID=3341

Chicago Format

Hu, Dehui, and N. Sanjay Rebello. "Characterizing student use of differential resources in physics integration problems." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2012, Philadelphia, PA, August 1-2, 2012. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=12807&DocID=3341 (accessed 18 April 2024).

MLA Format

Hu, Dehui, and N. Sanjay Rebello. "Characterizing student use of differential resources in physics integration problems." Physics Education Research Conference 2012. Philadelphia, PA: 2012. 186-189 Vol. 1513 of PER Conference. 18 Apr. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=12807&DocID=3341>.

BibTeX Export Format

@inproceedings{ Author = "Dehui Hu and N. Sanjay Rebello", Title = {Characterizing student use of differential resources in physics integration problems}, BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2012}, Pages = {186-189}, Address = {Philadelphia, PA}, Series = {PER Conference}, Volume = {1513}, Month = {August 1-2}, Year = {2012} }

Refer Export Format

%A Dehui Hu %A N. Sanjay Rebello %T Characterizing student use of differential resources in physics integration problems %S PER Conference %V 1513 %D August 1-2 2012 %P 186-189 %C Philadelphia, PA %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=12807&DocID=3341 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2012 %O August 1-2 %O application/pdf

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%0 Conference Proceedings %A Hu, Dehui %A Rebello, N. Sanjay %D August 1-2 2012 %T Characterizing student use of differential resources in physics integration problems %B Physics Education Research Conference 2012 %C Philadelphia, PA %V 1513 %P 186-189 %S PER Conference %8 August 1-2 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=12807&DocID=3341

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