University of Maine
Physics Education Research Laboratory

Home | Research | Funding | Outreach | Classroom Materials | Opportunities | PERLblog

Research and Evaluation | All Publications and Presentations (complete, most up-to-date)

Student decision making when learning physics

Students often learn multiple ways of thinking about a single situation or topic. For example, both energy and force descriptions may be relevant when describing the motion of objects. How students choose to use one model or another (and how they deal with using multiple, possibly contradictory models) is of central importance when teaching physics.

Links to Research Topics arranged by research topic and author

Papers

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)

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).

M.C. Wittmann Understanding Coordinated Sets of Resources: An Example from Quantum Tunneling Proceedings of the Fermi School in Physics Education Research, Varenna, Italy, 2003 July. (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 The Object Coordiantion Class Applied to Wavepulses: Analysing Student Reasonging in Wave Phyiscs International Journal of Science Education, 24:1, 97-118 (2002)

M.C. Wittmann Investigating Student Understanding of Quantum Physics: Models of Conductivity Newsletter of the American Society of Black Physicists, special issue on physics education research, March (2001).

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

J.R. Thompson Research on student understanding in physics: an example from two-dimensional kinematics Twenty-third state wide meeting of high school physics teachers, Orono, ME, 2003 May.

J.R. Thompson Discipline-based education research as a guide to teaching and learning: examples from physics. The University of New Hampshire, Analytical/Physical Chemistry Seminar, Durham, NH, 2003 May.

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.

N. Gillespie, M.C. Wittmann, R.E. Scherr The negotiation of relevance: Student inference in clinical interviews invited talk at the winter national meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers, Austin TX, 2003 January.

M.C. Wittmann Making Meaning: Emergent cognition in physics and physics education research invited talk at the winter national meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers, Austin TX, 2003 January.

M.C. Wittmann, R.E. Scherr Epistemology mediating conceptual knowledge: Constraints on data accessible from interviews invited talk at the winter national meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers, Austin TX, 2003 January.

R.E. Scherr, M.C. Wittmann The challenge of listening: Selective attention in clinical interviews invited talk at the winter national meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers, 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 AAPT Winter Meeting, Philadelphia PA, 2002 January.

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 M.C. Wittmann, 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 AAPT Winter Meeting, Anaheim CA, January 11, 1999

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

E.C. Sayre, M.C. Wittmann Student Selection of Reasoning Resources in Nearly-Novel Situations Winter meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers, Miami Beach, January 2004.

T. Lyons, J.R. Thompson, and M.C. Wittmann Context dependence of student understanding of simple graphs 127th National AAPT Meeting, Madison, WI, 2003 August.

M.C. Wittmann, R.N. Steinberg, E.F. Redish Evaluating Student Reasoning in the Context of a Modified Modern Physics Curriculum AAPT Summer meeting, Guelph, Canada, August 2000.

E.F. Redish, M.C. Wittmann Affecting Student Reasoning in the Context of Qauntum Tunneling AAPT Summer meeting, Guelph, Canada, August 2000.

C. v. Breen, M.C. Wittmann Continuing Evaluation of Secondary Implementation of RealTime Physics and Interactive Lecture Demonstrations AAPT Summer meeting, Guelph, Canada, August 2000.

M.C. Wittmann A Diagnostic Test to Investigate Student Use of Multiple Models of Mechanical Waves American Association of Physics Teachers, 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? , AAPT Summer 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

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.

Department of Physics and Astronomy
College of Education and Human Development
Center for Science and Mathematics Education Research

Contact Information

Michael C. Wittmann
-or-
John R. Thompson
Department of Physics and Astronomy
5709 Bennett Hall
University of Maine
Orono ME 04401-5709

tel: Michael C. Wittmann: 207 - 581 - 1237
tel: John R. Thompson: 207 - 581 - 1030

fax: 207 - 581 - 3410

Papers
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)
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).
M.C. Wittmann	Understanding Coordinated Sets of Resources: An Example from Quantum Tunneling	Proceedings of the Fermi School in Physics Education Research, Varenna, Italy, 2003 July. (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	The Object Coordiantion Class Applied to Wavepulses: Analysing Student Reasonging in Wave Phyiscs	International Journal of Science Education, 24:1, 97-118 (2002)
M.C. Wittmann	Investigating Student Understanding of Quantum Physics: Models of Conductivity	Newsletter of the American Society of Black Physicists, special issue on physics education research, March (2001).
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
J.R. Thompson	Research on student understanding in physics: an example from two-dimensional kinematics	Twenty-third state wide meeting of high school physics teachers, Orono, ME, 2003 May.
J.R. Thompson	Discipline-based education research as a guide to teaching and learning: examples from physics.	The University of New Hampshire, Analytical/Physical Chemistry Seminar, Durham, NH, 2003 May.
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.
N. Gillespie, M.C. Wittmann, R.E. Scherr	The negotiation of relevance: Student inference in clinical interviews	invited talk at the winter national meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers, Austin TX, 2003 January.
M.C. Wittmann	Making Meaning: Emergent cognition in physics and physics education research	invited talk at the winter national meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers, Austin TX, 2003 January.
M.C. Wittmann, R.E. Scherr	Epistemology mediating conceptual knowledge: Constraints on data accessible from interviews	invited talk at the winter national meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers, Austin TX, 2003 January.
R.E. Scherr, M.C. Wittmann	The challenge of listening: Selective attention in clinical interviews	invited talk at the winter national meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers, 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	AAPT Winter Meeting, Philadelphia PA, 2002 January.
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	M.C. Wittmann, 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	AAPT Winter Meeting, Anaheim CA, January 11, 1999
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
E.C. Sayre, M.C. Wittmann	Student Selection of Reasoning Resources in Nearly-Novel Situations	Winter meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers, Miami Beach, January 2004.
T. Lyons, J.R. Thompson, and M.C. Wittmann	Context dependence of student understanding of simple graphs	127th National AAPT Meeting, Madison, WI, 2003 August.
M.C. Wittmann, R.N. Steinberg, E.F. Redish	Evaluating Student Reasoning in the Context of a Modified Modern Physics Curriculum	AAPT Summer meeting, Guelph, Canada, August 2000.
E.F. Redish, M.C. Wittmann	Affecting Student Reasoning in the Context of Qauntum Tunneling	AAPT Summer meeting, Guelph, Canada, August 2000.
C. v. Breen, M.C. Wittmann	Continuing Evaluation of Secondary Implementation of RealTime Physics and Interactive Lecture Demonstrations	AAPT Summer meeting, Guelph, Canada, August 2000.
M.C. Wittmann	A Diagnostic Test to Investigate Student Use of Multiple Models of Mechanical Waves	American Association of Physics Teachers, 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?	, AAPT Summer 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
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.

University of Maine Physics Education Research Laboratory

Home | Research | Funding | Outreach | Classroom Materials | Opportunities | PERLblog

Research and Evaluation | All Publications and Presentations (complete, most up-to-date)

Student decision making when learning physics

Links to Research Topics arranged by research topic and author

Papers

Invited Talks

Contributed Talks

Contributed Posters

Department of Physics and Astronomy College of Education and Human Development Center for Science and Mathematics Education Research

Michael C. Wittmann -or- John R. Thompson Department of Physics and Astronomy 5709 Bennett Hall University of Maine Orono ME 04401-5709

tel: Michael C. Wittmann: 207 - 581 - 1237 tel: John R. Thompson: 207 - 581 - 1030

fax: 207 - 581 - 3410

University of Maine
Physics Education Research Laboratory

Department of Physics and Astronomy
College of Education and Human Development
Center for Science and Mathematics Education Research

Michael C. Wittmann
-or-
John R. Thompson
Department of Physics and Astronomy
5709 Bennett Hall
University of Maine
Orono ME 04401-5709

tel: Michael C. Wittmann: 207 - 581 - 1237
tel: John R. Thompson: 207 - 581 - 1030