Poster #41 - Threshold Concepts in Physics: Revisiting Barkhausen Effect

• In Event: 35.081 - MTCC Poster Session Eight
  In Poster Session: 35.081-3 - Science Teaching and Learning SIG Poster Session

Abstract

Threshold concepts are like gates. They are also troublesome knowledge influenced by students’ prior experiences, changing environment, etc. Successful entry through these gates represents a transformed learning. In physics, magnetic domain is considered a threshold concept as students have difficulty in visualizing its fluctuations using the Barkhausen effect demonstration.
Addressing this difficulty, I introduced an improvised set-up to bridge with Barkhausen effect. Data analysis from predict-observe-explain, drawing activity, and interviews indicated that the 28-second-year undergraduate students were able to generate modes of pictorial representations of magnetic phenomena. These representations were seen as conceptual crossover akin to threshold concepts. This study will further discuss the pieces of evidence and implications of tangible visualizations and threshold concepts that might impact physics learning.

Author

• Gerald G. Tembrevilla, Mount Saint Vincent University