Making Models of Measurement Tools: Examples from Think-Aloud Student Interviews
Constructing and using models are core scientific practices that have gained significant attention within K-12 and higher education. Although modeling is a broadly applicable process, within physics education, it has been preferentially applied to the iterative development of broadly-applicable principles (e.g., Newton's laws of motion in introductory mechanics). We show how similar modeling processes can be invoked as a means to understand the real-world complexities of experimental apparatus, including the measurement tools, in upper-division laboratory courses. In the context of a think-aloud experimental activity involving optics and electronics, we document examples where students apply all of the key facets of modeling to their apparatus and measurement tools: construction, prediction, interpretation of data, identification of model limitations, and revision. A modeling perspective reframes many of the seemingly arbitrary technical details of measurement tools and apparatus as an opportunity for authentic and engaging scientific sense-making.
Physics Education Research Conference 2014
Part of the PER Conference series Minneapolis, MN: July 30-31, 2014 Pages 291 - 294
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![]() <a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=13508">Zwickl, B, D. Hu, N. Finkelstein, and H. Lewandowski. "Making Models of Measurement Tools: Examples from Think-Aloud Student Interviews." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2014, Minneapolis, MN, July 30-31, 2014.</a>
![]() B. Zwickl, D. Hu, N. Finkelstein, and H. Lewandowski, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2014, Minneapolis, MN, 2014, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13508&DocID=4103).
![]() B. Zwickl, D. Hu, N. Finkelstein, and H. Lewandowski, Making Models of Measurement Tools: Examples from Think-Aloud Student Interviews, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2014, Minneapolis, MN, 2014, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13508&DocID=4103>.
![]() Zwickl, B., Hu, D., Finkelstein, N., & Lewandowski, H. (2014, July 30-31). Making Models of Measurement Tools: Examples from Think-Aloud Student Interviews. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2014, Minneapolis, MN. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13508&DocID=4103
![]() Zwickl, B, D. Hu, N. Finkelstein, and H. Lewandowski. "Making Models of Measurement Tools: Examples from Think-Aloud Student Interviews." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2014, Minneapolis, MN, July 30-31, 2014. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13508&DocID=4103 (accessed 17 February 2025).
![]() Zwickl, Benjamin, Dehui Hu, Noah Finkelstein, and Heather J. Lewandowski. "Making Models of Measurement Tools: Examples from Think-Aloud Student Interviews." Physics Education Research Conference 2014. Minneapolis, MN: 2014. 291 - 294 of PER Conference. 17 Feb. 2025 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13508&DocID=4103>.
![]() @inproceedings{
Author = "Benjamin Zwickl and Dehui Hu and Noah Finkelstein and Heather J. Lewandowski",
Title = {Making Models of Measurement Tools: Examples from Think-Aloud Student Interviews},
BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2014},
Pages = {291 - 294},
Address = {Minneapolis, MN},
Series = {PER Conference},
Month = {July 30-31},
Year = {2014}
}
![]() %A Benjamin Zwickl %A Dehui Hu %A Noah Finkelstein %A Heather J. Lewandowski %T Making Models of Measurement Tools: Examples from Think-Aloud Student Interviews %S PER Conference %D July 30-31 2014 %P 291 - 294 %C Minneapolis, MN %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13508&DocID=4103 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2014 %O July 30-31 %O application/pdf ![]() %0 Conference Proceedings %A Zwickl, Benjamin %A Hu, Dehui %A Finkelstein, Noah %A Lewandowski, Heather J. %D July 30-31 2014 %T Making Models of Measurement Tools: Examples from Think-Aloud Student Interviews %B Physics Education Research Conference 2014 %C Minneapolis, MN %P 291 - 294 %S PER Conference %8 July 30-31 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13508&DocID=4103 Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.
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