Developed by: Michael Wittman, Richard Steinberg, and Edward Redish
middle schoolhigh schoolintro collegeinter-mediateupper levelgrad school other
calc based
alg based
conceptual
Overview
What? Resources for teaching introductory quantum mechanics and modern physics with an emphasis on concepts and applications. Includes tutorials, suggested software, homework, exam questions, and information on understanding how students learn the physics.
Curriculum outline
The Photoelectric Effect
Wave Particle Duality
Classical Probability
Fourier Analysis and Uncertainty
Potential Energy Diagrams
The Shape of the Wave Function
Eigenvalues and Bound States
Quantum Tunneling
QM Model of Energy Bands
QM Model of Polarization
Properties of Light Emitting Diodes (LED's)
Quantum Model of Conductivity
Semi-Classical Model of Conductivity
Student skills developed
- Conceptual understanding
- Making real-world connections
Instructor effort required
- Medium
Resources
Teaching Materials
You can download the tutorials, pre-tests, homework, essay questions, exam questions, software, and other handouts for free from the New Model Course website.
These tutorials have also been published as a book by Wiley as the Activity-Based Tutorials Volume 2. You can order the book from Wiley or from Amazon.
Research
Silver ValidationThis is the second highest level of research validation, corresponding to:
- at least 1 of the "based on" categories
- at least 2 of the "demonstrated to improve" categories
- at least 4 of the "studied using" categories
Research Validation Summary
Based on Research Into:
- theories of how students learn
- student ideas about specific topics
Demonstrated to Improve:
- conceptual understanding
- problem-solving skills
- lab skills
- beliefs and attitudes
- attendance
- retention of students
- success of underrepresented groups
- performance in subsequent classes
Studied using:
- cycle of research and redevelopment
- student interviews
- classroom observations
- analysis of written work
- research at multiple institutions
- research by multiple groups
- peer-reviewed publication
References
- R. Scherr and M. Wittmann, The challenge of listening: The effect of researcher agenda on data collection and interpretation, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2002, Boise, Idaho, 2002.
- R. Steinberg, M. Wittmann, L. Bao, and E. Redish, The Influence of Student Understanding of Classical Physics When Learning Quantum Mechanics, presented at the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, Boston, MA, 1999.
- M. Wittmann and R. Scherr, Student Epistemological Mode Constraining Researcher Access to Student Thinking: An Example from an Interview on Charge Flow, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2002, Boise, Idaho, 2002.
- M. Wittmann, R. Steinberg, and E. Redish, Investigating student understanding of quantum physics: Spontaneous models of conductivity, Am. J. Phys. 70 (3), 218 (2002).
