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Session:
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Paper Type:
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Contributed
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Title:
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Conceptual Learning in a General Education Quantum Physics Course
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Meeting:
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129th AAPT National Meeting: Sacramento, CA |
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Location:
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Union Redwood |
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Date:
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Wednesday, Aug. 4 |
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Time:
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1:15PM
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Author:
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Michael Wittmann, Univ. of Maine
2075811237, wittmann@umit.maine.edu
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Co-Author(s):
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Roger E. Feeley, Jeffrey T. Morgan, Eleanor C. Sayre
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Abstract:
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To measure the effectiveness of a new general education quantum physics course at The University of Maine, we are investigating students' learning of concepts in quantum mechanics. We have modified materials from proven curricula1,2 to match the needs and skills of students with non-science majors. Students develop basic concepts of quantum physics with an emphasis on observations and building analogies to everyday events and intuitive physics situations. We measure student understanding primarily with written pre- and post-test responses. Though some students can successfully reason about bound states of finite wells and tunneling, more have problems with these and other fundamental ideas of quantum physics.
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Footnotes:
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1. L.C. McDermott, P.S. Shaffer, and the Physics Education Group at the University of Washington (2001). Tutorials in Introductory Physics. New York, Prentice Hall.
2. M.C. Wittmann, R.N. Steinberg, and E.F. Redish, Activity-Based Tutorials, Volume 2: Modern Physics, in preparation. New York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Preliminary version available at http://www.physics.umd.edu/perg/qm/qmcourse/NewModel/.
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