Seeking coherence and switching reasoning after forgetting an equation
written by
Katherine Gifford, Gabriel S. Ehrlich, Engin Bumbacher, and Eric Kuo
Selection and application of an appropriate equation is a key step in instructional problem-solving strategies. But what if one cannot exactly recall the relevant equation? We are currently investigating how coherence between physical and mathematical reasoning opens multiple solution pathways for qualitative physics problems. In one-on-one interviews, community college students, 4-year college undergraduates, and graduate students solved qualitative introductory-level E&M questions. Analysis of 18 interviews showed that while many students had initial difficulty in recalling a relevant equation, they demonstrated strategies for making progress. We present two cases from the data corpus. One interviewee was unsure whether the time constant for an RC circuit is RC or 1/(RC) and sought coherence with qualitative reasoning to determine the correct expression. Another student switched to reasoning qualitatively from a physical model after noting that they could not recall a relevant equation. These examples show how mathematical and physical reasoning is opportunistically incorporated in students' problem solving.
Physics Education Research Conference 2021
Part of the PER Conference series
Virtual Conference: August 4-5, 2021
Pages 154-159
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<a href="https://www.per-central.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=15741">Gifford, K, G. Ehrlich, E. Bumbacher, and E. Kuo. "Seeking coherence and switching reasoning after forgetting an equation." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2021, Virtual Conference, August 4-5, 2021.</a>
K. Gifford, G. Ehrlich, E. Bumbacher, and E. Kuo, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2021, Virtual Conference, 2021, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=15741&DocID=5475).
K. Gifford, G. Ehrlich, E. Bumbacher, and E. Kuo, Seeking coherence and switching reasoning after forgetting an equation, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2021, Virtual Conference, 2021, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=15741&DocID=5475>.
Gifford, K., Ehrlich, G., Bumbacher, E., & Kuo, E. (2021, August 4-5). Seeking coherence and switching reasoning after forgetting an equation. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2021, Virtual Conference. Retrieved May 5, 2025, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=15741&DocID=5475
Gifford, K, G. Ehrlich, E. Bumbacher, and E. Kuo. "Seeking coherence and switching reasoning after forgetting an equation." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2021, Virtual Conference, August 4-5, 2021. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=15741&DocID=5475 (accessed 5 May 2025).
Gifford, Katherine, Gabriel S. Ehrlich, Engin Bumbacher, and Eric Kuo. "Seeking coherence and switching reasoning after forgetting an equation." Physics Education Research Conference 2021. Virtual Conference: 2021. 154-159 of PER Conference. 5 May 2025 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=15741&DocID=5475>.
@inproceedings{
Author = "Katherine Gifford and Gabriel S. Ehrlich and Engin Bumbacher and Eric Kuo",
Title = {Seeking coherence and switching reasoning after forgetting an equation},
BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2021},
Pages = {154-159},
Address = {Virtual Conference},
Series = {PER Conference},
Month = {August 4-5},
Year = {2021}
}
%A Katherine Gifford %A Gabriel S. Ehrlich %A Engin Bumbacher %A Eric Kuo %T Seeking coherence and switching reasoning after forgetting an equation %S PER Conference %D August 4-5 2021 %P 154-159 %C Virtual Conference %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=15741&DocID=5475 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2021 %O August 4-5 %O application/pdf
%0 Conference Proceedings %A Gifford, Katherine %A Ehrlich, Gabriel S. %A Bumbacher, Engin %A Kuo, Eric %D August 4-5 2021 %T Seeking coherence and switching reasoning after forgetting an equation %B Physics Education Research Conference 2021 %C Virtual Conference %P 154-159 %S PER Conference %8 August 4-5 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=15741&DocID=5475
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