Education Research on Simulations and Visualization in Introductory Physics

该项目旨在通过使用计算机模拟来提高学生对物理关键概念的理解，从而为国家利益服务。课程的重点将是电磁学、波学和光学，这些通常是高校物理导论第二学期的主题。在之前的研究（由美国国家科学基金会奖DUE-1712159支持）中，研究人员制作了200多个物理模拟的集合，主要处理力学主题，他们比较了使用模拟和使用动手设备的实验室的有效性。在最近的COVID-19大流行期间，人们迅速转向在线学习，这表明随时准备好远程实验室体验的重要性。在这个项目中，研究人员将建立几个基于模拟的实验室，在本科学习助理（受过教育学培训的学生，他们回到以前的课程中帮助学生学习）的帮助下对它们进行改进，并开展教育研究，以评估实验室在第二学期物理入门课程中的有效性。他们之前的研究比较了基于模拟的实验室和实际操作的实验室，在此基础上，研究人员将把重点放在“混合”实验室上，这种实验室融合了两种环境的优点，允许学生在理想化的情况下使用模拟来研究概念，然后将这些理解与在现实世界的实验室设备中获得的理解进行比较。研究人员希望证明，实验室的几种设计可以产生可接受的学习收益。这样的结果将使教师和学生能够灵活地适应各自机构的当地条件。如果他们需要转向在线学习，该项目还将为他们提供可用的材料。这个项目的中心是与电磁学、波学和光学等主题的HTML5计算机模拟相关的教育研究。研究人员将设计几个基于模拟的实验室，包括模拟本身以及工作表和指导探究实验室包。他们将在大约400名本科生的班级中进行测试，重点是比较混合实验室（同时使用模拟和动手实验的实验室）与动手（仅）实验室的有效性。他们还将考察在背诵课的背景下，学生与模拟互动的有效性，以及在没有模拟的情况下完成概念的有效性。教育研究问题将主要关注如何使用模拟代替或结合动手实验设备影响(1)学生在电磁学、波学和光学等特定概念的书面评估中获得的内容知识；(2)学生对学习物理的态度；(3)学生分析或使用可视化工具和表示来解释电磁学，波学和光学中的特定概念；(4)学生在学习电磁学、波学和光学的具体概念时，视觉建模和表达技能的发展。NSF IUSE: EHR计划支持研究和开发项目，以提高所有学生STEM教育的有效性。通过参与学生学习轨道，该计划支持有前途的实践和工具的创建，探索和实施。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project aims to serve the national interest by improving students' understanding of key concepts in physics with the use of computer simulations. The focus will be electromagnetism, waves, and optics, which are topics usually covered in the second semester of introductory physics at colleges and universities. In previous research (supported by NSF Award DUE-1712159), the investigators produced a collection of over 200 physics simulations dealing mainly with topics in mechanics, and they compared the effectiveness of labs that used the simulations to labs that used hands-on equipment. The rapid switch to online learning during the recent COVID-19 pandemic made evident the importance of having remote lab experiences ready to go. In this project, the investigators will build several simulation-based labs, improve them with the assistance of undergraduate learning assistants (students trained in pedagogy who return to a course they previously took to help students learn), and carry out education research to assess the effectiveness of the labs in a second-semester introductory physics course. Building on their prior research, which compared simulation-based labs with hands-on labs, the investigators will focus on "hybrid" labs that merge the best of both environments -- allowing students to investigate concepts in an idealized situation using simulations and then compare those understandings to those gained in real-world scenarios with real-world lab equipment. The researchers hope to demonstrate that several designs for a lab can produce acceptable learning gains. Such a result will give instructors and students flexibility to adapt to local conditions at their institutions. The project will also give them materials they can use if they need to switch to online learning.This project centers on education research associated with HTML5 computer simulations for topics in electromagnetism, waves, and optics. The investigators will design several simulation-based labs, including the simulations themselves as well as worksheets and guided-inquiry lab packets. They will test them in a class of approximately 400 undergraduates, with a focus on comparing the effectiveness of hybrid labs (labs that use both simulations and hands-on experiments) versus hands-on (only) labs. They will also look at effectiveness in the context of recitations in which students interact with simulations versus working through the concepts without a simulation. The education research questions will primarily concern how the use of a simulation in place of, or in combination with, hands-on lab equipment impacts (1) students' gains in content knowledge on written assessments for specific concepts in electromagnetism, waves, and optics; (2) students' attitudes towards learning physics; (3) students' analysis or use of visual tools and representations to explain specific concepts in electromagnetism, waves, and optics; and (4) students' development of skills in visual modeling and representation when learning about specific concepts in electromagnetism, waves, and optics. The NSF IUSE: EHR Program supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM education for all students. Through the Engaged Student Learning track, the program supports the creation, exploration, and implementation of promising practices and tools.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.