Development, validation and in-class evaluation of a sequence of clicker questions on Larmor precession of spin in quantum mechanics

Abstract

Engaging students with well-designed clicker questions is one of the commonly used research-based instructional strategy in physics courses partly because it has a relatively low barrier to implementation. Moreover, validated robust sequences of clicker questions are likely to provide better scaffolding support and guidance to help students build a good knowledge structure of physics than an individual clicker question on a particular topic. Here we discuss the development, validation and in-class implementation of a clicker question sequence (CQS) for helping advanced undergraduate students learn about Larmor precession of spin, which takes advantage of the learning goals and inquiry-based guided learning sequences in a previously validated Quantum Interactive Learning Tutorial (QuILT). The in-class evaluation of the CQS using peer instruction is discussed by comparing upper-level undergraduate students' performance after traditional lecture-based instruction and after engaging with the CQS.

Challenges in addressing student difficulties with time-development of two-state quantum systems using a multiple-choice question sequence in virtual and in-person classes

“…The data presented here are from implementation in a mandatory junior-/senior-level course at a large research university in the United States. To develop and validate this CQS, we studied the learning objectives and goals of the QuILT and CQS on similar topics that had previously been developed [35,36,43]. Taking inspiration from the pre-and post-tests validated alongside those QuILTs, we made adjustments to questions to specifically address the time-development of two-state systems.…”

“…When presented in sequences of validated questions, they can systematically help students with a particular theme that they may be struggling with. Previously, such clicker question sequences (CQS) have been successfully developed, validated and implemented on several key topics in quantum mechanics [40][41][42][43][44]. Critically, the time-evolution of a quantum state has also been identified as a common difficulty [10,[45][46][47][48], but there have not been as many materials developed for time-evolution as for some other topics.…”

Challenges in addressing student difficulties with measurement uncertainty of two-state quantum systems using a multiple-choice question sequence in online and in-person classes

“…When presented in sequences of validated questions, clicker questions can systematically help students with particular concepts that they may be struggling with. Previously, such multiple-choice question sequences, or Clicker Question Sequences (CQS), related to several key QM concepts have been developed, validated and implemented [39][40][41][42][43][44]. Furthermore, previous work has been conducted to investigate student difficulties with the uncertainty principle as it applies to wavefunctions [15] as well as two-state systems [45], but there has not yet been a documented effort to leverage the CQS method to address those difficulties.…”

Development, validation and online and in-person implementation of clicker question sequence on quantum measurement uncertainty

“…When presented in validated Clicker Question Sequences (CQS) on a topic, they can systematically help students who are struggling with particular concepts. Previously, such CQSs related to several key QM concepts have been developed, validated and implemented [35][36][37][38][39]. Furthermore, previous work has been conducted to investigate student difficulties with the uncertainty principle as it applies to wavefunctions [40] as well as two-state systems [41], but there has not yet been a documented effort to develop, validate and implement a CQS to address those difficulties.…”