Characterizing representational gestures in collaborative sense-making of vectors in introductory physics
written by
Stacy M. Scheuneman, Virginia J. Flood, and Benedikt W. Harrer
An understanding of vectors and vector operations is crucial for success in physics, as this serves as the foundation for various essential concepts, including motion and forces. Previous research indicates that only a fraction of introductory physics students have a usable knowledge of vectors and vector operations, and that more attention should be given to how students make sense of vectors. We examined classroom video data from an introductory physics course wherein students worked collaboratively through learning activities to introduce vectors and vector operations. During these activities, students' employment of gesture as a representational mode facilitated group sense-making. We propose a preliminary taxonomy of gestures for representing vector magnitudes, directions, and initial and terminal points. By identifying and characterizing the gestures used by students, we can gain insights into their learning processes and conceptual understanding of vectors, which can inform instructional design and teaching practices.
Physics Education Research Conference 2023
Part of the PER Conference series
Sacramento, CA: July 19-20, 2023
Pages 290-295
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Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the published article's author(s), title, proceedings citation, and DOI.
<a href="https://www.per-central.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=16598">Scheuneman, S, V. Flood, and B. Harrer. "Characterizing representational gestures in collaborative sense-making of vectors in introductory physics." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2023, Sacramento, CA, July 19-20, 2023.</a>
S. Scheuneman, V. Flood, and B. Harrer, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2023, Sacramento, CA, 2023, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=16598&DocID=5778).
S. Scheuneman, V. Flood, and B. Harrer, Characterizing representational gestures in collaborative sense-making of vectors in introductory physics, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2023, Sacramento, CA, 2023, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=16598&DocID=5778>.
Scheuneman, S., Flood, V., & Harrer, B. (2023, July 19-20). Characterizing representational gestures in collaborative sense-making of vectors in introductory physics. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2023, Sacramento, CA. Retrieved April 3, 2025, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=16598&DocID=5778
Scheuneman, S, V. Flood, and B. Harrer. "Characterizing representational gestures in collaborative sense-making of vectors in introductory physics." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2023, Sacramento, CA, July 19-20, 2023. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=16598&DocID=5778 (accessed 3 April 2025).
Scheuneman, Stacy M., Virginia Flood, and Benedikt Harrer. "Characterizing representational gestures in collaborative sense-making of vectors in introductory physics." Physics Education Research Conference 2023. Sacramento, CA: 2023. 290-295 of PER Conference. 3 Apr. 2025 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=16598&DocID=5778>.
@inproceedings{
Author = "Stacy M. Scheuneman and Virginia Flood and Benedikt Harrer",
Title = {Characterizing representational gestures in collaborative sense-making of vectors in introductory physics},
BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2023},
Pages = {290-295},
Address = {Sacramento, CA},
Series = {PER Conference},
Month = {July 19-20},
Year = {2023}
}
%A Stacy M. Scheuneman %A Virginia Flood %A Benedikt Harrer %T Characterizing representational gestures in collaborative sense-making of vectors in introductory physics %S PER Conference %D July 19-20 2023 %P 290-295 %C Sacramento, CA %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=16598&DocID=5778 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2023 %O July 19-20 %O application/pdf
%0 Conference Proceedings %A Scheuneman, Stacy M. %A Flood, Virginia %A Harrer, Benedikt %D July 19-20 2023 %T Characterizing representational gestures in collaborative sense-making of vectors in introductory physics %B Physics Education Research Conference 2023 %C Sacramento, CA %P 290-295 %S PER Conference %8 July 19-20 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=16598&DocID=5778
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