Developing and tracking profiles of student conceptions of force through an engineering degree

Abstract

Research over the last four decades has shown that common misconceptions about force can be particularly resistant to change. The development of Newtonian ideas of force is important in many branches of engineering, particularly in the understanding of structures and the mechanics of machines. While these ideas are important in engineering, evidence from assessment shows that while students are able to solve problems and perform at a relatively high level, they have often not fully understood the underlying Newtonian concepts. In order to detect and ameliorate these misconceptions, a number of excellent diagnostic tools have been developed. Probably the most well-known of these are the Force Concept Inventory (FCI) and the Mechanics baseline test (MBT), developed by David Hestenes and his colleagues at Arizona state university [1]. Both of these tests been statistically validated and used worldwide in many different contexts. Evidence from data collected in 2016 shows that students in their final year of study perform as poorly as those in their first year on the FCI. What is not shown by these data is the way in which the students’ conceptual profiles change as they progress through their courses of study. Conceptual profiles can be used to map the evolution of student conceptual thinking [2–3]. In this project, we use the FCI to develop conceptual profiles for individual students enrolled on two programmes of study; the Bachelor of Engineering Technology and the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering, both of which start with introductory physics courses, but rely on force concepts throughout the qualification. Our intention is to track the evolution of these profiles as the students’ progress through their programmes of study. The study is in the first year of a three year cycle and this paper outlines the research design and reports on the changes that have taken place in the first six months of the students’ qualification, after they have completed a basic mechanics course.