Magnetic field: design and evaluation of teaching strategies based on learning as oriented research

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyse students’ ideas about the nature of the magnetic field. We have assumed that a significant knowledge of the source of magnetic field is a basic prerequisite when students are to reason about electromagnetic phenomena. In order to analyse students’ explanations we have taken into account the fact that individual build mental representations to help them understand the functioning of a physic system. These mental representations include different explanatory categories of reality in one same individual depending on the context and the contents concerned. Therefore, we have designed an open-question questionnaire with emphasis on explanations so as to analyse the students’ reasoning. The results found seem to confirm that students do have serious difficulties in learning the theory of magnetic field.