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written by Ronald K. Thornton
edited by Edward F. Redish and John S. Rigdan
This paper develops the phenomenological framework and methodology of "conceptual dynamics" in order to identify student views of the physical world and to explore the dynamic process by which these views are transformed during instruction. Conceptual dynamics aids the determination of the multiple student views, even for large numbers of students in instructional settings, and provides a method for the ordering of student views into learning hierarchies. The methods of conceptual dynamics are then applied to student views in a specific area of physics--force and motion, the behavior of objects moving as a result of forces acting on them. Common student views of force and motion for the different cases that students distinguish are articulated and learning hierarchies are established that allow a statistical prediction of student progression through the various views. Newton's First and Second Laws, for example, become the Four Student Laws of Force and Motion where different force and motion relationships apply to objects standing still, slowing down, moving at a constant velocity, and speeding up. Students adopt a physicist view of the four cases of motion in the order listed. Student descriptions of each view, in their own words, are given. Data is presented to support a model for the transition from one view to another that postulates that many students move through a transitional state when changing views.
International Conference on Undergraduate Physics
Part of the The changing role of physics departments in modern universities series
College Park, MD: July 31-August 3, 1996
Volume 399, Pages 241-266
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Education Foundations
- Cognition
= Cognition Development
- Learning Theory
- Lower Undergraduate
- Reference Material
= Research study
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Available for purchase
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© 1996 American Institute of Physics
Additional information is available.
DOI:
10.1063/1.53137
ISBN Numbers:
1563966980 (Set)
1563967588 (Vol. 1)
ISSN Numbers:
0094-243X (Print)
1551-7616 (Online)
PACSs:
01.40.Gm
01.50.-i
Keywords:
Curricula, Educational aids, conceptual dynamics, evaluation, force, motion, teaching methods, teaching strategies
Record Creator:
Metadata instance created July 14, 2005 by Lyle Barbato
Record Updated:
May 28, 2012 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update
when Cataloged:
March 10, 1997
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Record Link
AIP Format
R. Thornton, , presented at the International Conference on Undergraduate Physics, College Park, MD, 1996, WWW Document, (https://doi.org/10.1063/1.53137).
AJP/PRST-PER
R. Thornton, Conceptual Dynamics: Following Changing Student Views of Force and Motion, presented at the International Conference on Undergraduate Physics, College Park, MD, 1996, <https://doi.org/10.1063/1.53137>.
APA Format
Thornton, R. (1996, July 31-August 3). Conceptual Dynamics: Following Changing Student Views of Force and Motion. Paper presented at International Conference on Undergraduate Physics, College Park, MD. Retrieved December 6, 2024, from https://doi.org/10.1063/1.53137
Chicago Format
Thornton, Ronald. "Conceptual Dynamics: Following Changing Student Views of Force and Motion." Paper presented at the International Conference on Undergraduate Physics, College Park, MD, July 31-August 3, 1996. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.53137 (accessed 6 December 2024).
MLA Format
Thornton, Ronald. "Conceptual Dynamics: Following Changing Student Views of Force and Motion." International Conference on Undergraduate Physics. Eds. Redish, Edward F., and John S. Rigdan. College Park, MD: 1996. 241-266 Vol. 399 of The changing role of physics departments in modern universities. 6 Dec. 2024 <https://doi.org/10.1063/1.53137>.
BibTeX Export Format
@inproceedings{ Author = "Ronald Thornton", Editor = "Edward F. Redish and John S. Rigdan", Title = {Conceptual Dynamics: Following Changing Student Views of Force and Motion}, BookTitle = {International Conference on Undergraduate Physics}, Pages = {241-266}, Address = {College Park, MD}, Series = {The changing role of physics departments in modern universities}, Volume = {399}, Month = {July 31-August 3}, Year = {1996} }
Refer Export Format

%A Ronald Thornton %T Conceptual Dynamics: Following Changing Student Views of Force and Motion %S The changing role of physics departments in modern universities %E Edward F. Redish %E John S. Rigdan, (eds) %V 399 %D July 31-August 3 1996 %P 241-266 %C College Park, MD %U https://doi.org/10.1063/1.53137 %O International Conference on Undergraduate Physics %O July 31-August 3 %O text/html

EndNote Export Format

%0 Conference Proceedings %A Thornton, Ronald %D July 31-August 3 1996 %T Conceptual Dynamics: Following Changing Student Views of Force and Motion %E Redish, Edward F. %E Rigdan, John S. %B International Conference on Undergraduate Physics %C College Park, MD %V 399 %P 241-266 %S The changing role of physics departments in modern universities %8 July 31-August 3 %@ 0094-243X (Print),1551-7616 (Online),1563966980 (Set),1563967588 (Vol. 1) %U https://doi.org/10.1063/1.53137


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