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May 26 – 31, 2024
Western University
America/Toronto timezone
Welcome to the 2024 CAP Congress Program website! / Bienvenue au siteweb du programme du Congrès de l'ACP 2024!

(G) (POS-4) Exploring Computational Physics Exercises as a Tool for Learning Physics

May 28, 2024, 5:47 PM
2m
SSC Hallways (Western University)

SSC Hallways

Western University

Poster not-in-competition (Graduate Student) / Affiche non-compétitive (Étudiant(e) du 2e ou 3e cycle) Physics Education / Enseignement de la physique (DPE-DEP) DPE Poster Session & Student Poster Competition (3) | Session d'affiches DEP et concours d'affiches étudiantes (3)

Speaker

Victoria Arbour (University of Guelph)

Description

Over the past decade, physics education has increasingly emphasized computational skills for undergraduates. These skills offer many benefits, fostering problem-solving, analysis, and critical thinking applicable across various professions. This study delves into the relationship between computational activities and enhanced physics learning, specifically explored through coding exercises introduced in a second-year electricity and magnetism course. Students numerically computed vector derivatives for diverse fields, providing a basis for learning gains assessed through pre- and post-quizzes. Interviews with students during code development shed light on their thought processes, confidence levels, and alignment of computed results with their initial conceptions of vector fields.

Keyword-1 Computational Physics
Keyword-2 Pedagogy

Primary author

Victoria Arbour (University of Guelph)

Co-author

Michael Massa (University of Guelph)

Presentation materials