PHYSICS SEMINAR

Douglas T. Young
Department of Physics
Mercer University 

Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Willet Science Center 101

"Student Misconceptions About Resistive Circuits"

Abstract:  The set of papers produced by McDermott et al. on student understanding of electric circuits are seminal works in physics education research. The inquiry-based exercises developed from this work are widely used to teach electric current and resistance in circuits. This talk will summarize the misconceptions discussed in these papers and the types of exercises that have been generated to deal with these misconceptions. 

Lillian C. McDermott and Peter S. Shaffer,
    “Research as a guide for curriculum development: An example from introductory electricity. Part I: Investigation of student understanding,” Am. J. Phy. 60(11), pp. 994-1003 (1993), and
    “Research as a guide for curriculum development: An example from introductory electricity. Part II: Design of instructional strategies ,” Am. J. Phy. 60(11), pp. 1003-1013 (1993).
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Please join us for light refreshments outside WSC 109 at 4:15.

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