Identifying and Addressing Student Difficulties with Sound

Michael C. Wittmann

Physics Education Research Group, UMCP

Given at the AAPT National Meeting, Denver, CO, 11 Aug 97

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Title Slide: Identifying and Addressing Student Difficulties With Sound

Research Setting and Methods

Individual Demonstration Interviews (Fall '96) Motion of dust particle or candle flame due to sound

Correct Response

Case Study Example: "Alex"

Alex's Description of Effect of Wave on Dust Particle

Summary of Alex's description

How Does Alex Describe the Effect of Changing Frequency or Volume

Pretests and Diagnostic Tests

Pre and Post-Traditional Instruction Descriptions of Sound Waves Acting on Dust Particle

Pre and Post-Traditional Instruction Descriptions of Sound Waves Acting on Candle Flame

Curriculum Development to Address Student Difficulties

Post Instruction Interviews

Pre/Post Comparison of Interview Students' Performances on Sound Question

Particle Pulse Model of Waves (Results from Previous Research)

Conclusions

The Persistence of Mental Models (joke)