Thesis Detail Page
Developing and Assessing Research-Based Tools for Teaching Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics
written by
Benjamin R. Brown
Research-based tools to educate college students in physics courses from introductory level to graduate level are essential for helping students with a diverse set of goals and backgrounds learn physics. This thesis explores issues related to student common difficulties with some topics in undergraduate quantum mechanics and thermodynamics courses. Student difficulties in learning quantum mechanics and thermodynamics are investigated by administering written tests and surveys to many classes and conducting individual interviews with a subset of students outside the class to unpack the cognitive mechanisms of the difficulties. The quantum mechanics research also focuses on using the research on student difficulties for the development and evaluation of a Quantum Interactive Learning Tutorial (QuILT) to help students learn about the time-dependence of expectation values using the context of Larmor precession of spin and evaluating the role of asking students to self-diagnose their mistakes on midterm examination on their performance on subsequent problem solving. The QuILT on Larmor precession of spin has both paper-pencil activities and a simulation component to help students learn these foundational issues in quantum mechanics. Preliminary evaluations suggest that the QuILT, which strives to help students build a robust knowledge structure of time-dependence of expectation values in quantum mechanics using a guided approach, is successful in helping students learn these topics in the junior-senior level quantum mechanics courses. The technique to help upper-level students in quantum mechanics courses effectively engage in the process of learning from their mistakes is also found to be effective. In particular, research shows that the self-diagnosis activity in upper-level quantum mechanics significantly helps students who are struggling and this activity can reduce the gap between the high and low achieving students on subsequent problem solving. Finally, a survey o
University:
University of Pittsburgh
Academic Department: Physics & Astronomy Pages 243
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Record Link
<a href="https://www.per-central.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=13786">Brown, Benjamin. "Developing and Assessing Research-Based Tools for Teaching Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics." University of Pittsburgh, 2015.</a>
AIP Format
B. Brown, , University of Pittsburgh, 2015, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13786&DocID=4206).
AJP/PRST-PER
B. Brown, Developing and Assessing Research-Based Tools for Teaching Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics, University of Pittsburgh, 2015, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13786&DocID=4206>.
APA Format
Brown, B. (2015, July 7). Developing and Assessing Research-Based Tools for Teaching Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics (University of Pittsburgh, 2015). Retrieved September 10, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13786&DocID=4206
Chicago Format
Brown, Benjamin. "Developing and Assessing Research-Based Tools for Teaching Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics." University of Pittsburgh, 2015. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13786&DocID=4206 (accessed 10 September 2024).
MLA Format
Brown, Benjamin. "Developing and Assessing Research-Based Tools for Teaching Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics." 7 July 2015. University of Pittsburgh, 2015. 10 Sep. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13786&DocID=4206>.
BibTeX Export Format
@phdthesis{
Author = "Benjamin Brown",
Title = {Developing and Assessing Research-Based Tools for Teaching Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics},
School = {University of Pittsburgh},
Month = {July},
Year = {2015}
}
Refer Export Format
%A Benjamin Brown %T Developing and Assessing Research-Based Tools for Teaching Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics %D July 7, 2015 %P 243 %I University of Pittsburgh %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13786&DocID=4206 %O Physics & Astronomy %O application/pdf
EndNote Export Format
%0 Thesis %A Brown, Benjamin %D July 7, 2015 %T Developing and Assessing Research-Based Tools for Teaching Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics %B Physics & Astronomy %I University of Pittsburgh %P 243 %8 July 7, 2015 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13786&DocID=4206 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.
Citation Source Information
The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual. The AJP/PRST-PER presented is based on the AIP Style with the addition of journal article titles and conference proceeding article titles. The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References. The Chicago Style presented is based on information from Examples of Chicago-Style Documentation. The MLA Style presented is based on information from the MLA FAQ. |
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