• Open Access

Exploring the role of conceptual scaffolding in solving synthesis problems

Lin Ding, Neville Reay, Albert Lee, and Lei Bao
Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. 7, 020109 – Published 14 October 2011

Abstract

It is well documented that when solving problems experts first search for underlying concepts while students tend to look for equations and previously worked examples. The overwhelming majority of end-of-chapter (EOC) problems in most introductory physics textbooks contain only material and examples discussed in a single chapter, rarely requiring a solver to conduct a general search for underlying concepts. Hypothesizing that complete reliance on EOC problems trains students to rely on a nonexpert approach, we designed and implemented “synthesis” problems, each combining two major concepts that are broadly separated in the teaching timeline. To provide students with guided conceptual scaffolding, we encapsulated each synthesis problem into a sequence with two preceding conceptually based multiple-choice questions. Each question contained one of the major concepts covered in the subsequent synthesis problem. Results from a small-scale interview study and two large-scale written tests showed that the scaffolding encouraged students to search for and apply appropriate fundamental principles in solving synthesis problems, and that repeated training using scaffolded synthesis problems also helped students to make cross-topic transfers.

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  • Received 22 January 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevSTPER.7.020109

This article is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.

© 2011 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Lin Ding1,*, Neville Reay2, Albert Lee3, and Lei Bao2

  • 1School of Teaching and Learning, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
  • 2Department of Physics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
  • 3Department of Physics and Astronomy, California State University Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90032, USA

  • *Corresponding author. ding.65@osu.edu.

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Issue

Vol. 7, Iss. 2 — July - December 2011

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