Transfer of Learning in Quantum Mechanics

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written by Chandralekha Singh

We investigate the difficulties that undergraduate students in quantum mechanics courses have in transferring learning from previous courses or within the same course from one context to another by administering written tests and conducting individual interviews. Quantum mechanics is abstract and its paradigm is very different from the classical one. A good grasp of the principles of quantum mechanics requires creating and organizing a knowledge structure consistent with the quantum postulates. Previously learned concepts such as the principle of superposition and probability can be useful in quantum mechanics if students are given opportunity to build associations between new and prior knowledge. We also discuss the need for better alignment between quantum mechanics and modern physics courses taken previously because semi-classical models can impede internalization of the quantum paradigm in more advanced courses.

Physics Education Research Conference 2004
Part of the PER Conference Invited Paper series
Sacramento, California: August 4-5, 2004
Volume 790, Pages 23-26

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Published: September 1, 2005

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Education - Basic Research - Assessment - Learning Theory Oscillations & Waves - Wave Motion = Interference and Diffraction Quantum Physics - General	- Upper Undergraduate - Graduate/Professional	- Reference Material = Research study

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Formats:: application/pdf
non-digital
Mirror:: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2084692
Access Rights:: Available by subscription and
Available for purchase
Restriction:: © 2004 American Institute of Physics
DOI:: 10.1063/1.2084692
PACSs:: 01.40.Fk; 01.40.Gm; 03.65.-w
Keywords:: PERC 2004, educational courses, interviews, invited paper, quantum mechanics, quantum theory, transfer of learning
Record Cloner:: Metadata instance created October 15, 2009 by Alea Smith
Record Updated:: July 8, 2013 by Lyle Barbato
Other Collections:: The Quantum Exchange

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Record Link

<a href="https://www.per-central.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=9523">Singh, Chandralekha. "Transfer of Learning in Quantum Mechanics." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2004, Sacramento, California, August 4-5, 2004.</a>

AIP Format

C. Singh, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2004, Sacramento, California, 2004, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9523&DocID=3465).

AJP/PRST-PER

C. Singh, Transfer of Learning in Quantum Mechanics, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2004, Sacramento, California, 2004, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9523&DocID=3465>.

APA Format

Singh, C. (2004, August 4-5). Transfer of Learning in Quantum Mechanics. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2004, Sacramento, California. Retrieved March 15, 2025, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9523&DocID=3465

Chicago Format

Singh, Chandralekha. "Transfer of Learning in Quantum Mechanics." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2004, Sacramento, California, August 4-5, 2004. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9523&DocID=3465 (accessed 15 March 2025).

MLA Format

Singh, Chandralekha. "Transfer of Learning in Quantum Mechanics." Physics Education Research Conference 2004. Sacramento, California: 2004. 23-26 Vol. 790 of PER Conference Invited Paper. 15 Mar. 2025 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9523&DocID=3465>.

BibTeX Export Format

@inproceedings{ Author = "Chandralekha Singh", Title = {Transfer of Learning in Quantum Mechanics}, BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2004}, Pages = {23-26}, Address = {Sacramento, California}, Series = {PER Conference Invited Paper}, Volume = {790}, Month = {August 4-5}, Year = {2004} }

Refer Export Format

%A Chandralekha Singh %T Transfer of Learning in Quantum Mechanics %S PER Conference Invited Paper %V 790 %D August 4-5 2004 %P 23-26 %C Sacramento, California %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9523&DocID=3465 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2004 %O August 4-5 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Conference Proceedings %A Singh, Chandralekha %D August 4-5 2004 %T Transfer of Learning in Quantum Mechanics %B Physics Education Research Conference 2004 %C Sacramento, California %V 790 %P 23-26 %S PER Conference Invited Paper %8 August 4-5 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9523&DocID=3465

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