Resource Plasticity: Detailing a Common Chain of Reasoning with Damped Harmonic Motion

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written by Eleanor C. Sayre, Michael C. Wittmann, and John E. Donovan

As part of ongoing research into cognitive processes and student thought, we have investigated the interplay between mathematics and physics resources in intermediate mechanics students. We present evidence from a reformed sophomore-level mechanics class which contains both tutorial and lecture components. In the context of writing Newton's Second Law for damped harmonic motion, students discuss the signs of the spring and damping forces. Using a grounded theory approach, we identify a common chain of reasoning in which a request for reasoning is followed by elaborative sense-making and checks for consistency, finishing with an optional appeal for group consensus. Our analysis provides evidence for a description of student thinking in terms of Plasticity, an extension of Resource Theory.

Physics Education Research Conference 2006
Part of the PER Conference series
Syracuse, New York: July 26-27, 2006
Volume 883, Pages 85-88

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Published: January 30, 2007

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Education Foundations - Cognition - Learning Theory Oscillations & Waves - Oscillations = Damped Oscillators	- Lower Undergraduate	- Reference Material = Research study

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Mirror:: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2508697
Access Rights:: Available for purchase
Restriction:: © 2006 American Institute of Physics
DOI:: 10.1063/1.2508697
PACSs:: 01.40.Fk; 01.40.Ha
Keywords:: Learning Theory, PERC 2006, Resource Plasticity, chain of reasoning, damped harmonic motion, grounded theory, mechanics
Record Creator:: Metadata instance created June 4, 2007 by Shawn Weatherford
Record Updated:: July 16, 2013 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update when Cataloged:: January 30, 2007
Other Collections:: The PER-Central

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<a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=5234">Sayre, E, M. Wittmann, and J. Donovan. "Resource Plasticity: Detailing a Common Chain of Reasoning with Damped Harmonic Motion." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2006, Syracuse, New York, July 26-27, 2006.</a>

AIP Format

E. Sayre, M. Wittmann, and J. Donovan, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2006, Syracuse, New York, 2006, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=5234&DocID=2130).

AJP/PRST-PER

E. Sayre, M. Wittmann, and J. Donovan, Resource Plasticity: Detailing a Common Chain of Reasoning with Damped Harmonic Motion, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2006, Syracuse, New York, 2006, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=5234&DocID=2130>.

APA Format

Sayre, E., Wittmann, M., & Donovan, J. (2006, July 26-27). Resource Plasticity: Detailing a Common Chain of Reasoning with Damped Harmonic Motion. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2006, Syracuse, New York. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=5234&DocID=2130

Chicago Format

Sayre, E, M. Wittmann, and J. Donovan. "Resource Plasticity: Detailing a Common Chain of Reasoning with Damped Harmonic Motion." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2006, Syracuse, New York, July 26-27, 2006. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=5234&DocID=2130 (accessed 26 April 2024).

MLA Format

Sayre, Eleanor, Michael Wittmann, and John E. Donovan. "Resource Plasticity: Detailing a Common Chain of Reasoning with Damped Harmonic Motion." Physics Education Research Conference 2006. Syracuse, New York: 2006. 85-88 Vol. 883 of PER Conference. 26 Apr. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=5234&DocID=2130>.

BibTeX Export Format

@inproceedings{ Author = "Eleanor Sayre and Michael Wittmann and John E. Donovan", Title = {Resource Plasticity: Detailing a Common Chain of Reasoning with Damped Harmonic Motion}, BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2006}, Pages = {85-88}, Address = {Syracuse, New York}, Series = {PER Conference}, Volume = {883}, Month = {July 26-27}, Year = {2006} }

Refer Export Format

%A Eleanor Sayre %A Michael Wittmann %A John E. Donovan %T Resource Plasticity: Detailing a Common Chain of Reasoning with Damped Harmonic Motion %S PER Conference %V 883 %D July 26-27 2006 %P 85-88 %C Syracuse, New York %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=5234&DocID=2130 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2006 %O July 26-27 %O application/pdf

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%0 Conference Proceedings %A Sayre, Eleanor %A Wittmann, Michael %A Donovan, John E. %D July 26-27 2006 %T Resource Plasticity: Detailing a Common Chain of Reasoning with Damped Harmonic Motion %B Physics Education Research Conference 2006 %C Syracuse, New York %V 883 %P 85-88 %S PER Conference %8 July 26-27 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=5234&DocID=2130

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