Virtual learning environment for interactive engagement with advanced quantum mechanics

A virtual learning environment can engage university students in the learning process in ways that the traditional lectures and lab formats cannot. We present our virtual learning environment StudentResearcher, which incorporates simulations, multiple-choice quizzes, video lectures, and gamification into a learning path for quantum mechanics at the advanced university level. StudentResearcher is built upon the experiences gathered from workshops with the citizen science game Quantum Moves at the high-school and university level, where the games were used extensively to illustrate the basic concepts of quantum mechanics. The first test of this new virtual learning environment was a 2014 course in advanced quantum mechanics at Aarhus University with 47 enrolled students. We found increased learning for the students who were more active on the platform independent of their previous performances.

Figure 1

Left: Content priority for StudentResearcher. Convey most of the content through interactive elements, then video format, illustrations, or text in descending order. Right: The landing page of StudentResearcher after login.

Figure 2

Left: Example of a reshuffling exercise. The students had to drag the steps of the proof such that they were in the correct sequence. Right: Screenshot of the SGE simulator. The simulator allows the student to change the orientation of the magnets, to change the rate of particles, and to block certain spin components. When the particles hit the backscreen, a histogram of where the particles hit is generated.

Figure 3

Left: Results from the midterm test in both 2013 (blue) and 2014 (yellow). In 2013 there was 35 students who answered the midterm test, whereas 17 of the 47 students [35] answered the midterm test in 2014. Right: Histogram of student activity on StudentResearcher vs the grade they received at the oral exam.

Figure 4

Number of badges awarded each week during the course. Each user could only receive one badge per week.