Students' epistemic understanding of mathematical derivations in physics

被引：7

作者：

Sirnoorkar, Amogh ^{[1
]}

Mazumdar, Anwesh ^{[2
]}

Kumar, Arvind ^{[2
]}

机构：

[1] Cent Univ Karnataka, Dept Phys, Kalaburgi 585367, Karnataka, India

[2] Tata Inst Fundamental Res, Homi Bhabha Ctr Sci Educ, VN Purav Marg, Bombay 400088, Maharashtra, India

来源：

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICS | 2017年 / 38卷 / 01期

关键词：

epistemic measure; maths-physics link; kinds of epistemic pitfalls;

D O I：

10.1088/0143-0807/38/1/015703

中图分类号：

G40 [教育学];

学科分类号：

040101 ; 120403 ;

摘要：

We propose an epistemic measure of physics in terms of the ability to discriminate between the purely mathematical, physical (i.e. dependent on empirical inputs) and nominal (i.e. empty of mathematical or physical content) propositions appearing in a typical derivation in physics. The measure can be relevant in understanding the maths-physics link hurdles among college students. To illustrate the idea, we construct a tool for a familiar derivation (involving specific heats of an ideal gas), and use it for a sample of students from three different institutes. The reliability of the tool is examined. The results indicate, as intuitively expected, that epistemic clarity correlates with content clarity. Data yield several significant trends on the extent and kinds of epistemic pitfalls prevalent among physics undergraduates.

引用

页数：14