This article presents the use of Physlet-based questions with proven pedagogical techniques to improve student conceptual understanding. Physlet problems are used in a Just-in-Time-Teaching approach. Most examples are from a senior level quantum mechanics class, although examples in introductory mechanics are also shown. Results of pre/post testing using the Quantum Mechanics Visualization Instrument (QMVI) show significant gain in understanding. Comparison is made with other QMVI results from undergraduate and graduate students.
This article was cited as the best education article in the journal Computers in Science and Engineering for the American Institute of Physics' 75th anniversary. This citation is given below under Annotations.
This article appeared in our Education Department and incorporates all of the content elements that make a complete instrument of use to educators. In addition, its computational theme of modular, web-based applets was extremely timely. Together these made this an outstanding article. In particular, the elements span the entire gamut from pedagogy to technology, all of which need to be considered together for an instructor to understand the applets not just as a technological curiosity, but to visualize the implications they have for supporting particular kinds of instructional methodologies, in this case "just in time teaching".
The latter are a recent result of experimental research in teaching and learning, and this article combines that result with the applet concept, itself a result of itself a result of experimental development in software engineering. By bringing these results together, this article meets the ideal framed by the mission of CiSE as a publication.
M. Belloni and W. Christian, Physlets for Quantum Mechanics, Comp. Sci. Eng. 5 (1), 90 (2003), <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=4161&DocID=145>.
Belloni, M., & Christian, W. (2003, January 1). Physlets for Quantum Mechanics. Comp. Sci. Eng., 5(1), 90-96. Retrieved December 7, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=4161&DocID=145
%0 Journal Article %A Belloni, Mario %A Christian, Wolfgang %D January 1, 2003 %T Physlets for Quantum Mechanics %J Comp. Sci. Eng. %V 5 %N 1 %P 90-96 %8 January 1, 2003 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=4161&DocID=145
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.
Best Education Article, Computers in Science and Engineering
Record Link
Save to my folders