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Student Learning In Upper-Level Thermal Physics: Comparisons And Contrasts With Students In Introductory Courses
written by David E. Meltzer
We found that students in an upper-level thermal physics course were in general quicker than introductory students at grasping and applying fundamental concepts. Upper-level students seemed, in general, more receptive to employing qualitative reasoning using multiple representations, and capable of using it more effectively than introductory students. In addition, upper-level students were better able to utilize guided-inquiry curricular materials in the sense of reasoning with greater depth and grasping more subtle issues. However, although the overall level of preparation and ability was higher in the upper-level course, the broad range of preparation represented among the students presented various practical challenges to implementing active-learning instructional strategies. Moreover, even quite capable upper-level students would falter unexpectedly and unpredictably on various conceptual difficulties that are common among introductory students. The unpredictable and inconsistent nature of this effect demonstrated that instructors must always be prepared to detect and address such difficulties in upper-level courses.
Physics Education Research Conference 2004
Part of the PER Conference Invited Paper series
Sacramento, California: August 4-5, 2004
Volume 790, Pages 31-34
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Education Foundations
- Assessment
Education Practices
- Active Learning
General Physics
- Physics Education Research
- Graduate/Professional
- Lower Undergraduate
- Upper Undergraduate
- Reference Material
= Research study
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Mirror:
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2084694
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Restriction:
© 2004 American Institute of Physics
DOI:
10.1063/1.2084694
PACSs:
01.40.Fk
01.40.Gm
01.50.-i
Keywords:
PERC 2004, conceptual difficulty, educational aids, educational courses, guided-inquiry, multiple representations, qualitative reasoning, teaching, upper vs lower level students
Record Cloner:
Metadata instance created October 15, 2009 by Alea Smith
Record Updated:
May 27, 2012 by Lyle Barbato
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AIP Format
D. Meltzer, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2004, Sacramento, California, 2004, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9524&DocID=2875).
AJP/PRST-PER
D. Meltzer, Student Learning In Upper-Level Thermal Physics: Comparisons And Contrasts With Students In Introductory Courses, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2004, Sacramento, California, 2004, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9524&DocID=2875>.
APA Format
Meltzer, D. (2004, August 4-5). Student Learning In Upper-Level Thermal Physics: Comparisons And Contrasts With Students In Introductory Courses. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2004, Sacramento, California. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9524&DocID=2875
Chicago Format
Meltzer, David. "Student Learning In Upper-Level Thermal Physics: Comparisons And Contrasts With Students In Introductory Courses." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2004, Sacramento, California, August 4-5, 2004. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9524&DocID=2875 (accessed 19 March 2024).
MLA Format
Meltzer, David. "Student Learning In Upper-Level Thermal Physics: Comparisons And Contrasts With Students In Introductory Courses." Physics Education Research Conference 2004. Sacramento, California: 2004. 31-34 Vol. 790 of PER Conference Invited Paper. 19 Mar. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9524&DocID=2875>.
BibTeX Export Format
@inproceedings{ Author = "David Meltzer", Title = {Student Learning In Upper-Level Thermal Physics: Comparisons And Contrasts With Students In Introductory Courses}, BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2004}, Pages = {31-34}, Address = {Sacramento, California}, Series = {PER Conference Invited Paper}, Volume = {790}, Month = {August 4-5}, Year = {2004} }
Refer Export Format

%A David Meltzer %T Student Learning In Upper-Level Thermal Physics: Comparisons And Contrasts With Students In Introductory Courses %S PER Conference Invited Paper %V 790 %D August 4-5 2004 %P 31-34 %C Sacramento, California %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9524&DocID=2875 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2004 %O August 4-5 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Conference Proceedings %A Meltzer, David %D August 4-5 2004 %T Student Learning In Upper-Level Thermal Physics: Comparisons And Contrasts With Students In Introductory Courses %B Physics Education Research Conference 2004 %C Sacramento, California %V 790 %P 31-34 %S PER Conference Invited Paper %8 August 4-5 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9524&DocID=2875


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