Speaker
Ebba Koerfer
Description
The two-state paramagnet has previously been proposed as a valuable pedagogical tool for teaching statistical mechanics. In this study, we focused on the role that the two-state paramagnet example played in student discussions while solving problems in statistical mechanics. Students' use of the example was both advantageous and challenging. While we saw students using the two-state paramagnet example to reason analogically about similar systems, we also saw a general lack of in-depth reflection of what makes the model transferable to other contexts. We suggest some considerations for teachers to better leverage this example and facilitate student learning in statistical mechanics.
| How would you like to present your contribution? | Live in Kraków (time slot to be allotted based on the programme) |
|---|---|
| Target education level | University |
| Category | Formal Education |
Author
Ebba Koerfer
Co-author
Bor Gregorcic
