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

在爱荷华州州立大学和缅因州大学的团体将在热物理研究和研究为基础的课程开发的协调计划合作，针对两个介绍性的普通物理课程和高级本科课程。研究部分包括一对一的学生访谈，书面的前和后测试的问题，和多项选择调查。这项研究，然后应用到课程材料的发展，旨在提高学生的理解与主动学习方法以前被证明是有效的物理教学的方式相一致。反过来，将评估课程在解决学生以前通过研究确定的困难方面的有效性。这个项目将提供深入了解学生在热物理学的基本概念的学习。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。研究成果和教材的传播将改善国内和国际热物理教学。

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.