Research on the Learning and Teaching of Thermal Physics

华盛顿大学和缅因州大学的研究小组将在热物理研究和以研究为基础的课程开发的协调计划中进行合作，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，考试前和考试后的书面问题，以及多项选择调查。这项研究随后被应用于课程材料的开发，旨在以与先前证明在物理教学中有效的主动学习方法相一致的方式来提高学生的理解能力。课程将反过来评估其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洞察力。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上的热物理教学。

Groups at the University of Washington 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.