Collaborative Research: Research on the Learning and Teaching of Thermal Physics

爱荷华州立大学和缅因大学的研究小组将在热物理的研究和基于研究的课程开发方面进行合作，目标是普通物理入门课程和高级本科课程。研究部分包括一对一的学生访谈，测试前和测试后的书面问题，以及多项选择调查。然后将这项研究应用于课程材料的开发，旨在以与先前在物理教学中证明有效的主动学习方法一致的方式提高学生的理解。接下来，将评估课程在解决先前通过研究确定的学生困难方面的有效性。这个项目将为学生学习热物理的基本概念提供见解。教学材料将专门针对学生在研究中发现的困难而设计，并将利用经过验证的教学技术来提高其有效性。研究成果和课程材料的传播将改善国内和国际的热物理教学。

Groups at Iowa State University and the University of Maine will collaborate in a coordinated program of research and research-based curriculum development in thermal physics, targeting both introductory general physics courses and advanced-level undergraduate courses. The research component involves one-on-one student interviews, written pre- and post-test questions, and multiple-choice surveys. This research is then applied to the development of curricular materials intended to improve student understanding in a manner consistent with active-learning methods previously shown be effective in physics instruction. The curriculum will in turn be evaluated for its effectiveness at addressing the student difficulties previously identified through research. This project will provide insight into student learning of fundamental concepts in thermal physics. Instructional materials will be designed specifically to address student difficulties found in the research, and will utilize proven pedagogical techniques to increase their effectiveness. The dissemination of both the research results and of the curricular materials will improve instruction in thermal physics nationally and internationally.