Test on the effectiveness of the sum over paths approach in favoring the construction of an integrated knowledge of quantum physics in high school

In this paper we present the results of a research-based teaching-learning sequence on introductory quantum physics based on Feynman’s sum over paths approach in the Italian high school. Our study focuses on students’ understanding of two founding ideas of quantum physics, wave particle duality and...

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Autores principales:	Massimiliano Malgieri, Pasquale Onorato, Anna De Ambrosis
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	American Physical Society 2017
Materias:	Special aspects of education LC8-6691 Physics QC1-999
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/713f6331c84240c085a755449682909b
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:713f6331c84240c085a755449682909b2021-12-02T10:51:43ZTest on the effectiveness of the sum over paths approach in favoring the construction of an integrated knowledge of quantum physics in high school10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.13.0101012469-9896https://doaj.org/article/713f6331c84240c085a755449682909b2017-01-01T00:00:00Zhttp://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.13.010101http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.13.010101https://doaj.org/toc/2469-9896In this paper we present the results of a research-based teaching-learning sequence on introductory quantum physics based on Feynman’s sum over paths approach in the Italian high school. Our study focuses on students’ understanding of two founding ideas of quantum physics, wave particle duality and the uncertainty principle. In view of recent research reporting the fragmentation of students’ mental models of quantum concepts after initial instruction, we collected and analyzed data using the assessment tools provided by knowledge integration theory. Our results on the group of n=14 students who performed the final test indicate that the functional explanation of wave particle duality provided by the sum over paths approach may be effective in leading students to build consistent mental models of quantum objects, and in providing them with a unified perspective on both the photon and the electron. Results on the uncertainty principle are less clear cut, as the improvements over traditional instruction appear less significant. Given the low number of students in the sample, this work should be interpreted as a case study, and we do not attempt to draw definitive conclusions. However, our study suggests that (i) the sum over paths approach may deserve more attention from researchers and educators as a possible route to introduce basic concepts of quantum physics in high school, and (ii) more research should be focused not only on the correctness of students’ mental models on individual concepts, but also on the ability of students to connect different ideas and experiments related to quantum theory in an organized whole.Massimiliano MalgieriPasquale OnoratoAnna De AmbrosisAmerican Physical SocietyarticleSpecial aspects of educationLC8-6691PhysicsQC1-999ENPhysical Review Physics Education Research, Vol 13, Iss 1, p 010101 (2017)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Special aspects of education LC8-6691 Physics QC1-999
spellingShingle	Special aspects of education LC8-6691 Physics QC1-999 Massimiliano Malgieri Pasquale Onorato Anna De Ambrosis Test on the effectiveness of the sum over paths approach in favoring the construction of an integrated knowledge of quantum physics in high school
description	In this paper we present the results of a research-based teaching-learning sequence on introductory quantum physics based on Feynman’s sum over paths approach in the Italian high school. Our study focuses on students’ understanding of two founding ideas of quantum physics, wave particle duality and the uncertainty principle. In view of recent research reporting the fragmentation of students’ mental models of quantum concepts after initial instruction, we collected and analyzed data using the assessment tools provided by knowledge integration theory. Our results on the group of n=14 students who performed the final test indicate that the functional explanation of wave particle duality provided by the sum over paths approach may be effective in leading students to build consistent mental models of quantum objects, and in providing them with a unified perspective on both the photon and the electron. Results on the uncertainty principle are less clear cut, as the improvements over traditional instruction appear less significant. Given the low number of students in the sample, this work should be interpreted as a case study, and we do not attempt to draw definitive conclusions. However, our study suggests that (i) the sum over paths approach may deserve more attention from researchers and educators as a possible route to introduce basic concepts of quantum physics in high school, and (ii) more research should be focused not only on the correctness of students’ mental models on individual concepts, but also on the ability of students to connect different ideas and experiments related to quantum theory in an organized whole.
format	article
author	Massimiliano Malgieri Pasquale Onorato Anna De Ambrosis
author_facet	Massimiliano Malgieri Pasquale Onorato Anna De Ambrosis
author_sort	Massimiliano Malgieri
title	Test on the effectiveness of the sum over paths approach in favoring the construction of an integrated knowledge of quantum physics in high school
title_short	Test on the effectiveness of the sum over paths approach in favoring the construction of an integrated knowledge of quantum physics in high school
title_full	Test on the effectiveness of the sum over paths approach in favoring the construction of an integrated knowledge of quantum physics in high school
title_fullStr	Test on the effectiveness of the sum over paths approach in favoring the construction of an integrated knowledge of quantum physics in high school
title_full_unstemmed	Test on the effectiveness of the sum over paths approach in favoring the construction of an integrated knowledge of quantum physics in high school
title_sort	test on the effectiveness of the sum over paths approach in favoring the construction of an integrated knowledge of quantum physics in high school
publisher	American Physical Society
publishDate	2017
url	https://doaj.org/article/713f6331c84240c085a755449682909b
work_keys_str_mv	AT massimilianomalgieri testontheeffectivenessofthesumoverpathsapproachinfavoringtheconstructionofanintegratedknowledgeofquantumphysicsinhighschool AT pasqualeonorato testontheeffectivenessofthesumoverpathsapproachinfavoringtheconstructionofanintegratedknowledgeofquantumphysicsinhighschool AT annadeambrosis testontheeffectivenessofthesumoverpathsapproachinfavoringtheconstructionofanintegratedknowledgeofquantumphysicsinhighschool
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Test on the effectiveness of the sum over paths approach in favoring the construction of an integrated knowledge of quantum physics in high school

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