Students' Problem-Solving Strategies in Qualitative Physics Questions in a Simulation-Based Formative Assessment

• In Event: AERA Poster Session 3
  In Poster Session: Science Teaching and Learning

Abstract

Previous studies on quantitative physics problem solving have been concerned with students’ using equations simply as a numerical computational tool. The current study started from a research question: “What are students’ problem-solving strategies in qualitative conceptual physics questions with computer simulations?” In the study, three first-year college students’ interview data were analyzed to characterize their problem-solving strategies in qualitative physics questions. When interviewing students, they were given two or three conceptual physics questions and asked to think aloud about the questions. The findings showed that students still used equations to answer the qualitative questions, but the ways of using equations differed between students. The study found that when students used equations as explanatory, conceptual understanding, and/or computational tools.

Author

• Mihwa Park, Texas Tech University