Using Analogies to Learn Introductory Physics

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written by Shih-Yin Lin and Chandralekha Singh

Identifying the relevant physics principles is a central component of problem solving. A major goal of most introductory physics courses is to help students discern the deep similarities between problems based upon the physics principles so that they can transfer what they learned by solving one problem to solve another problem which involves the same principle. We conducted an investigation in which 251 calculus- and algebra-based introductory physics students were asked explicitly in the recitation quiz to learn from a solved problem and then solve another problem that has different surface features but the same underlying physics principles. We find that many students were able to discern the deep similarities between the problems. When the solved problem was provided, students were likely to invoke the correct principles; however, more scaffolding is needed to help students apply these principles correctly.

Physics Education Research Conference 2010
Part of the PER Conference series
Portland, Oregon: July 21-22, 2010
Volume 1289, Pages 209-212

download 85kb .pdf
Published: August 24, 2010

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Education - Applied Research - Active Learning = Problem Solving - Pedagogy = Analogies Education - Basic Research - Cognition = Cognition Development	- Lower Undergraduate	- Reference Material = Report = Research study

PER-Central Type	Intended Users	Ratings
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Formats:: application/pdf
non-digital
Mirror:: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3515202
Access Rights:: Limited free access and
Available for purchase; A preprint of the work is available. A hard copy of the PERC 2010 proceedings is available for purchase from the AIP.
Restriction:: © 2010 American Institute of Physics
DOI:: 10.1063/1.3515202
PACSs:: 01.40.gb; 01.40.Ha
Keywords:: analogy, transfer, PERC 2010, problem solving, scaffolding
Record Cloner:: Metadata instance created October 29, 2010 by Alea Smith
Record Updated:: May 1, 2013 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update when Cataloged:: August 24, 2010

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Record Link

<a href="https://www.per-central.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=10452">Lin, Shih-Yin, and Chandralekha Singh. "Using Analogies to Learn Introductory Physics." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2010, Portland, Oregon, July 21-22, 2010.</a>

AIP Format

S. Lin and C. Singh, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2010, Portland, Oregon, 2010, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=10452&DocID=1911).

AJP/PRST-PER

S. Lin and C. Singh, Using Analogies to Learn Introductory Physics, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2010, Portland, Oregon, 2010, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=10452&DocID=1911>.

APA Format

Lin, S., & Singh, C. (2010, July 21-22). Using Analogies to Learn Introductory Physics. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2010, Portland, Oregon. Retrieved September 17, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=10452&DocID=1911

Chicago Format

Lin, Shih-Yin, and Chandralekha Singh. "Using Analogies to Learn Introductory Physics." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2010, Portland, Oregon, July 21-22, 2010. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=10452&DocID=1911 (accessed 17 September 2024).

MLA Format

Lin, Shih-Yin, and Chandralekha Singh. "Using Analogies to Learn Introductory Physics." Physics Education Research Conference 2010. Portland, Oregon: 2010. 209-212 Vol. 1289 of PER Conference. 17 Sep. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=10452&DocID=1911>.

BibTeX Export Format

@inproceedings{ Author = "Shih-Yin Lin and Chandralekha Singh", Title = {Using Analogies to Learn Introductory Physics}, BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2010}, Pages = {209-212}, Address = {Portland, Oregon}, Series = {PER Conference}, Volume = {1289}, Month = {July 21-22}, Year = {2010} }

Refer Export Format

%A Shih-Yin Lin %A Chandralekha Singh %T Using Analogies to Learn Introductory Physics %S PER Conference %V 1289 %D July 21-22 2010 %P 209-212 %C Portland, Oregon %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=10452&DocID=1911 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2010 %O July 21-22 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Conference Proceedings %A Lin, Shih-Yin %A Singh, Chandralekha %D July 21-22 2010 %T Using Analogies to Learn Introductory Physics %B Physics Education Research Conference 2010 %C Portland, Oregon %V 1289 %P 209-212 %S PER Conference %8 July 21-22 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=10452&DocID=1911

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