A Support System for Learning Physics in Which Students Identify Errors Using Measurements Displayed by a Measurement Tool

Abstract

It is sometimes challenging for learners of elementary physics to correct their mistaken notions regarding physics concepts. The need to address this phenomenon is illustrated by the existence of common misconceptions such as ‘motion implies a force’ (MIF), in which learners mistakenly believe that force always acts in an object’s direction of motion, as well as educational approaches using error-based simulation (EBS). In a conventional EBS, a learner’s mistake is usually output as a physical phenomenon, but there are cases in which the learner’s mistake cannot actually be shown. For this reason, we propose an EBS in which measurement information is displayed to the learner in the form of a measurement tool together with the physical phenomenon and shows error in response to the learner's mistake, something the conventional EBS is unable to do. In this paper, we propose an EBS learning exercise using a measurement tool in which the learners themselves must determine the measurement in order to confirm the correct answers. Using this method, it is possible for the learner to use trial and error after getting the wrong answer and eventually find the correct answer. It is also possible to support learning in a virtual experiment environment using a computer. Experiments were performed using a system equipped with the measurement tool, and it was verified that the learners made significant progress learning physics through trial and error.