University of Maine
Physics Education Research Laboratory
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Research and Evaluation | All Publications and Presentations (complete, most up-to-date)
Consistency and coherence in student reasoning
Students often learn multiple ways of thinking about a topic, but often are not able to create a coherent model that combines the possibly inconsistent elements of their reasoning. For example, in quantum physics, one must know which parts of classical physics are most important.
Links to Research Topics arranged by research topic and author
Papers |
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| M.C. Wittmann, E.F. Redish, and R.N. Steinberg | Understanding and Addressing Student Reasoning about Sound | International Journal of Science Education 25:8, 991-1013 (2003) |
| J.T. Morgan, M.C. Wittmann, and J.R. Thompson | Student Understanding of Tunneling in Quantum Mechanics: Examining Survey Results | In S. Franklin, K. Cummings, J. Marx (Eds.) Physics Education Research Conference Proceedings 2003 (submitted). |
| M.C. Wittmann, J.T. Morgan | Understanding Data Analysis from Multiple Viewpoints: An Example from Quantum Tunneling | In S. Franklin, K. Cummings, J. Marx (Eds.) Physics Education Research Conference Proceedings 2003 (submitted). |
| E.C. Sayre, M.C. Wittmann, and J.R. Thompson | Resource Selection in Nearly-Novel Situations | In S. Franklin, K. Cummings, J. Marx (Eds.) Physics Education Research Conference Proceedings 2003 (submitted). |
| R.E. Scherr and M.C. Wittmann | The challenge of listening: The effect of research agenda on data collection and interpretation | In S. Franklin, K. Cummings, J. Marx (Eds.) Physics Education Research Conference Proceedings 2002.(2003) |
| M.C. Wittmann and R.E. Scherr | Student epistemological stance constraining researcher access to student thinking: An example from an interview on charge flow | In S. Franklin, K. Cummings, J. Marx (Eds.) Physics Education Research Conference Proceedings 2002.(2003) |
| M.C. Wittmann | Limitations in predicting student performance on standardized tests | In S. Franklin, K. Cummings, J. Marx (Eds.) Physics Education Research Conference Proceedings 2002.(2003) |
| M.C. Wittmann | The Object Coordiantion Class Applied to Wavepulses: Analysing Student Reasonging in Wave Phyiscs | International Journal of Science Education, 24:1, 97-118 (2002) |
| R.N. Steinberg, M.C. Wittmann, Lei Bao, and E.F. Redish | The influence of student understanding of classical physics when learning quantum mechanics | Research on the Teaching and Learning of Quantum Sciences, NARST Annual Meeting, Boston (March, 1999) |
| M.C. Wittmann, R.N. Steinberg, E.F. Redish | Making Sense of How Students Make Sense of Mechanical Waves | The Physics Teacher 37, 15-21 (1999) |
| R.N. Steinberg, M.C. Wittmann, E.F. Redish, | Mathematical Tutorials In Introductory Physics | Sample class, in The Changing Role Of Physics Departments In Modern University, AIP Conference Proceedings 399 (AIP, 1997) 1075-1092. |
Invited Talks |
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| M.C. Wittmann | Conceptual knowledge in quantum physics: Student reasoning about charge flow | invited talk at the April national meeting of the American Physical Society, Philadelphia PA, 2003 April. |
| M.C. Wittmann | Assessment in active learning: Pre- and post-testing in physics | invited talk at the workshop on “Active Learning,” Center for Teaching Excellence, University of Maine, 2003 March. |
| N. Gillespie, M.C. Wittmann, R.E. Scherr | The negotiation of relevance: Student inference in clinical interviews (abstract) | 126th American Association of Physics Teachers National Meeting, Austin TX, 2003 January. |
| M.C. Wittmann, R.E. Scherr | Epistemology mediating conceptual knowledge: Constraints on data accessible from interviews(abstract) | 126th American Association of Physics Teachers National Meeting, Austin TX, 2003 January. |
| R.E. Scherr, M.C. Wittmann | The challenge of listening: Selective attention in clinical interviews (abstract) | 126th American Association of Physics Teachers National Meeting, Austin TX, 2003 January. |
| M.C. Wittmann | The role of conceptual and meta-cognition reasoning in the learning quantum physics | colloquium held at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Worcester MA, 2002 Sep 30 |
| M.C. Wittmann | The role of conceptual and meta-cognition reasoning in the learning quantum physics | colloquium held at Bates, Lewiston ME, 2002 Sep 13 |
| M.C. Wittmann | Intuition and Inquiry in the Investigation of Conceptual and Meta-cognitive Reasoning | seminar held at The University of Maryland, College Park MD, 2002 Sep 5 |
| M.C. Wittmann | Student understanding of conductivity: Interviews, classroom discussions, and tools for improved student learning | University of New Hampshire, 2002 February 11. |
| M.C. Wittmann | Student understanding of conductivity: Interviews, classroom discussions, and tools for improved student learning | University of Rhode Island, 2002 February 8. |
| M.C. Wittmann | Classroom Interactions and Learning in the Context of a Curriculum for Teaching Conductivity (abstract) | 124th AAPT National Meeting, Philadelphia PA, 2002 January. |
| M.C. Wittmann | Standardized tests as predictors of student performance in advanced physics classes | University of Maine, December 2001. |
| M.C. Wittmann | Evaluating Student Model Building in Quantum Physics | University of Maine, February, 2001. |
| M.C. Wittmann | Making Sense of Student Reasoning in the Classroom: Lessons from Mechanical Waves in a Larger Context | The Ohio State University, March 2000. |
| M.C. Wittmann | Making Sense of Student Reasoning in the Classroom: Lessons from Mechanical Waves in a Larger Context | University of Maine, February 2000. |
| M.C. Wittmann | Issues in Implementing a New Curriculum in Quantum Mechanics | The Ohio State University, November 1999. |
| M.C. Wittmann | Student use of multiple models in physics: Examples from wave and quantum physics | North Carolina State University, July 20, 1999. |
| M.C. Wittmann | Student use of multiple models in wave and quantum physics | Bremen University, Germany, June 1999. |
| M.C. Wittmann | Research and Curriculum Development to Address Student Understanding of Wave Physics | 118th AAPT National Meeting, Anaheim CA,1999 January |
| M.C. Wittmann | Student Use of Multiple Models When Making Sense of Physics: An Example From Mechanical Waves | Summer School of the European Science Education Research Association, Marly-le-Roi, France, August 1998. To see an on-line version of a more complete version of this talk, see Wittmann's defense talk. |
| M.C. Wittmann | Investigation and Addressing Student Difficulties with Physics: An Example from Mechanical Waves | Two-Year College Introductory Physics Conference III, Joliet IL, Joliet Junior College, June, 1998. To see an on-line version of a more complete version of this talk, see Wittmann's defense talk. |
| M.C. Wittmann | Making sense of student models of physics: An example from mechanical waves | University of Maryland, October 1998. To see an on-line version of a more complete version of this talk, see Wittmann's defense talk. |
| M.C. Wittmann | Student Difficulties with Wave Concepts | University of Maryland, September 1997. |
Contributed Talks |
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| E.C. Sayre, M.C. Wittmann | Student Selection of Reasoning Resources in Nearly-Novel Situations (abstract) | 128th AAPT National Meeting, Miami Beach FL, 2004 January |
| M.C. Wittmann | Concepts and Epistemologies in a General Education Quantum Physics Course (abstract) | 128th AAPT National Meeting, Miami Beach FL, 2004 January |
| J.T. Morgan and M.C. Wittmann | Student understanding of quantum tunneling (abstract) | 127th AAPT National Meeting, Madison, WI, 2003 August |
| T. Lyons, J.R. Thompson, and M.C. Wittmann | Context dependence of student understanding of simple graphs (abstract) | 127th National AAPT Meeting, Madison, WI, 2003 August |
| M.C. Wittmann, J.T. Morgan, and J.R. Thompson | Student Reasoning about Quantum Tunneling | Fermi School in Physics Education Research, Varenna, Italy, 2003 July |
| M.C. Wittmann | Using standardized tests as predictors in advanced physics classes (abstract) | 123rd AAPT National Meeting, Rochester NY, July 2001 |
| A. Elby, M.C. Wittmann | What the 'FCI invalidity' results really show (abstract) | 123rd AAPT National Meeting, Rochester NY, July 2001 |
| M.C. Wittmann, E.F. Redish | Analyzing Student Expectations of Physics in a Modified Quantum Physics Course (abstract) | 122nd AAPT National Meeting, San Diego CA, January 2001 |
| M.C. Wittmann, R.N. Steinberg, E.F. Redish | Evaluating Student Reasoning in the Context of a Modified Modern Physics Curriculum | 121st AAPT National Meeting, Guelph, Canada, August 2000 |
| R. Lippmann, M.C. Wittmann | Developing and evaluating research-based curriculum materials to help students understand concepts of spectroscopy (abstract) | 121st AAPT National Meeting, Guelph, Canada, August 2000 |
| E.F. Redish, M.C. Wittmann | Affecting Student Reasoning in the Context of Qauntum Tunneling (abstract) | 121st AAPT National Meeting, Guelph, Canada, August 2000 |
| M.C. Wittmann, Bao Lei, R.N. Steinberg, E.F. Redish | Curriculum Development to Address Student Difficulties with Models of Conductivity | 119th AAPT National Meeting, San Antonio TX, August 1999 |
| M.C. Wittmann | A Diagnostic Test to Investigate Student Use of Multiple Models of Mechanical Waves | 117th AAPT National Meeting , Lincoln NE, August 1998. To see an on-line version of a more complete version of this talk, see Wittmann's defense talk |
| Michael C. Wittmann, Richard N. Steinberg, Edward F. Redish | Investigation of Student Difficulties with Mechanical Waves with a Specially Designed Diagnostic Test | Regional meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers, Chesapeake Section, May 1998, University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus, Baltimore MD. To see an on-line version of a more complete version of this talk, see Wittmann's defense talk. |
| J.M. Saul, M.C. Wittmann, R.N. Steinberg, and E.F. Redish | Student Difficulties with Math in Physics: Why can't Students Apply What They Learn in Math Class? | 113th AAPT National Meeting, College Park MD, August 1996. |
| R.N. Steinberg, J.M. Saul, M.C. Wittmann, and E.F. Redish | Student Difficulties Understanding the role of Mathematics in Introductory Physics | Joint APS/AAPT Meeting, Indianapolis IN, May 1996. |
Contributed Posters |
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| T. Lyons, M.C. Wittmann, J.R. Thompson | Context dependence of student understanding of simple graphs | Physics Education Research Conference, Madison, WI, August 2003. |
| E.C. Sayre, M.C. Wittmann. J.R. Thompson | Resource Selection in Nearly-Novel Situations | Physics Education Research Conference, Madison, WI, August 2003. |
| M.C. Wittmann, R.E. Scherr | The challenge of listening: The effect of research agenda on data collection and interpretation | Physics Education Research Conference, 2002 Aug 7. |
| M.C. Wittmann, R.E. Scherr | Student epistemological stance constraining researcher access to student thinking: An example from an interview on charge flow | Physics Education Research Conference, 2002 Aug 7. |
| R.E. Scherr, M.C. Wittmann | The challenge of listening: The effect of research agenda on data collection and interpretation | “University of Maine Center for Science and Mathematics Education Summer Conference: “Integrating Science and Mathematics Education Research into Teaching,” 2002 June. |
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