Research Initiation Grant: Conceptual and Mathematical Representations in Optical Engineering

这项工程教育研究启动基金旨在让一名工程教师与物理教育研究人员合作，了解学生在光学方面的数学和概念理解之间的一致性。该研究将使用一种创新的访谈方法来引出光偏振和平面波的概念和数学表示。这个项目更广泛的意义和重要性在于它能够告诉其他人学生如何学习将抽象概念的概念和数学表示结合起来。研究者还将参与计划研究的本科生，从而为他们的专业发展和指导做出贡献。该项目与NSF的战略目标重叠，即通过培养具有新能力和专业知识的工程人才来改变前沿。此外，NSF为社会创新的目标是通过创造对社会有用的结果和研究，为教育政策和实践提供信息。

This engineering education research initiation grant seeks to engage an engineering faculty member with physics education researchers to understand the alignment between students' mathematical and conceptual understanding in optics. The research will use an innovative interview method to elicit both conceptual and mathematical representations of optical polarization and plane waves.The broader significance and importance of this project arises from its ability to inform others how students learn to integrate conceptual and mathematical representations of abstract ideas. The investigator will also engage undergraduate students in the planned research, thus contributing to their professional development and mentoring. This project overlaps with NSF's strategic goals of transforming the frontiers through preparation of an engineering workforce with new capabilities and expertise. Additionally NSF's goal of innovating for society is enabled by creating results and research that are useful for society by informing educational policy and practices.