Fundamental Thermal Concepts: an Assessment of University College Students' Conceptual Understanding of Everyday Perspectives

Authors

  • Gil Nicetas B. Villarino Leyte Normal University, P. Paterno Street, Tacloban City, Leyte 6500, Philippines

Keywords:

Alternative conceptions, Assessment, Conceptual Understanding, Thermal

Abstract

Addressing students' alternative conceptions draws out a conceptual change that leads to the quality of learning processes. Fundamental thermal concept phenomena are a challenging topic within the initial instruction of thermodynamics. A physically adequate concept of thermal is crucial for grasping the processes underlying everyday perspectives. This research was conducted to investigate students' understanding of fundamental thermal concepts from everyday perspectives. The 19 open-ended multiple-choice items in the questionnaire used in this study required written justifications for students' choice of responses. The items involving topics in fundamental thermal concepts about heat transfer, temperature change, heat conductivity, and equilibrium were based on a previously developed questionnaire and from students' alternative conceptions obtained from the research literature. The items, which were based entirely on everyday perspectives with scientific terminology avoided, were administered to 244 university college students of Leyte Normal University Tacloban City, Leyte, Philippines. Students' responses in each of the four conceptual groups were identified into different categories of understanding. The study showed that students' written responses have some common specific alternative conceptions. The majority of the students could not offer a valid reason for their answers. The results of this study may imply the teaching style in Philippine junior and senior high schools that may be problematic. Also, the students' alternative conceptions could be used as a guide for developing proper teaching strategies on the introductory physics course, especially in fundamental thermal concepts.

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Published

2022-06-26

How to Cite

Gil Nicetas B. Villarino. (2022). Fundamental Thermal Concepts: an Assessment of University College Students’ Conceptual Understanding of Everyday Perspectives. International Journal of Social Sciences: Current and Future Research Trends, 14(1), 15–29. Retrieved from https://ijsscfrtjournal.isrra.org/index.php/Social_Science_Journal/article/view/1025

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