Interactive simulations for the learning and teaching of quantum mechanics concepts

Since 2009, we have been developing and evaluating interactive simulations with accompanying activities for the learning and teaching of quantum mechanics concepts at university level. The QuVis simulations build on education research and our lecturing experience, and aim to specifically target student areas of difficulty in quantum mechanics. Simulations are available on a wide range of topics from introductory to advanced level quantum mechanics. This article gives an overview of the three collections of QuVis simulations developed so far. These include simulations for physics students, simulations for physical chemistry students studying introductory quantum mechanics and simulations to support a new introductory quantum mechanics curriculum based on two-level systems. Evaluation with students plays a decisive role in optimizing the educational effectiveness of the simulations and activities. We describe methods used to refine and further develop the resources. We give examples of revisions based on outcomes of individual student observation sessions. 1.Postprin

Using student-generated content to engage students in upper-division quantum mechanics

Peerwise is an online peer learning community in which students can author, answer, and give feedback on each other's multiple-choice questions. We describe the implementation of Peerwise in a junior-level quantum mechanics course over seven iterations, with 1369 student-generated questions in total. We describe measures of student engagement in terms of answering questions to prepare for course assessments and the improvement of questions. We discuss factors in the implementation that may have impacted engagement, including the timing of submissions, support for authoring high-quality questions, instructions on commenting and minimal requirements on authoring and commenting.Publisher PD

Investigating student understanding of quantum entanglement

The authors thank the UK Institute of Physics for funding the simulation development.Quantum entanglement is a central concept of quantum theory for multiple particles. Entanglement played an important role in the development of the foundations of the theory and makes possible modern applications in quantum information technology. As part of the QuVis Quantum Mechanics Visualization Project, we developed an interactive simulation Entanglement: The nature of quantum correlations using two-particle entangled spin states. We investigated student understanding of entanglement at the introductory and advanced undergraduate levels by collecting student activity and post-test responses using two versions of the simulation and carrying out a small number of student interviews. Common incorrect ideas found include statements that all entangled states must be maximally entangled (i.e. show perfect correlations or anticorrelations along all common measurement axes), that the spins of particles in a product state must have definite values (cannot be in a superposition state with respect to spin) and difficulty factorizing product states. Outcomes from this work will inform further development of the QuVis Entanglement simulation.Publisher PD

Interactive simulations for quantum key distribution

We thank the UK Institute of Physics and the University of St Andrews for funding the simulation developmentSecure communication protocols are becoming increasingly important, e.g. for internet-based communication. Quantum key distribution (QKD) allows two parties, commonly called Alice and Bob, to generate a secret sequence of 0s and 1s called a key that is only known to themselves. Classically, Alice and Bob could never be certain that their communication was not compromised by a malicious eavesdropper. Quantum mechanics however makes secure communication possible. The fundamental principle of quantum mechanics that taking a measurement perturbs the system (unless the measurement is compatible with the quantum state) also applies to an eavesdropper. Using appropriate protocols to create the key, Alice and Bob can detect the presence of an eavesdropper by errors in their measurements. As part of the QuVis Quantum Mechanics Visualisation Project, we have developed a suite of four interactive simulations that demonstrate the basic principles of three different QKD protocols. The simulations use either polarised photons or spin 1/2 particles as physical realisations. The simulations and accompanying activities are freely available for use online or download, and run on a wide range of devices including tablets and PCs. Evaluation with students over three years was used to refine the simulations and activities. Preliminary studies show that the refined simulations and activities help students learn the basic principles of QKD at both the introductory and advanced undergraduate levels.PostprintPeer reviewe

Characterizing representational learning : a combined simulation and tutorial on perturbation theory

We thank the University of St. Andrews for funding the development of simulations.Analyzing, constructing and translating between graphical, pictorial and mathematical representations of physics ideas and reasoning flexibly through them ("representational competence'') is a key characteristic of expertise in physics but is a challenge for learners to develop. Interactive computer simulations and University of Washington style tutorials both have affordances to support representational learning. This article describes work to characterize students' spontaneous use of representations before and after working with a combined simulation and tutorial on first-order energy corrections in the context of quantum-mechanical time-independent perturbation theory. Data were collected from two institutions using pre-, mid- and post-tests to assess short- and long-term gains. A representational competence level framework was adapted to devise level descriptors for the assessment items. The results indicate an increase in the number of representations used by students and the consistency between them following the combined simulation tutorial. The distributions of representational competence levels suggest a shift from perceptual to semantic use of representations based on their underlying meaning. In terms of activity design, this study illustrates the need to support students in making sense of the representations shown in a simulation and in learning to choose the most appropriate representation for a given task. In terms of characterizing representational abilities, this study illustrates the usefulness of a framework focusing on perceptual, syntactic and semantic use of representations.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Testing conceptual understanding in introductory astronomy

Understanding students‟ prior beliefs about the nature of the Universe is a first step towards improving astronomy instruction. This article describes results from two diagnostic surveys testing understanding of astronomy concepts given to first, second and third-year St Andrews students taking astronomy and astrophysics modules.We highlight results pertaining to the phases of the Moon, the cause of the seasons, planet temperatures and properties of comets, and discuss possible underlying reasons for student difficulties. We find that some misconceptions remain at higher levels, and that new knowledge may be incorporated into prior beliefs without a substantial conceptual change

Quantum mechanics teaching resources from the Institute of Physics

In December 2013, the Institute of Physics (IOP) launched a set of freely available resources at quantumphysics.iop.org for the teaching and learning of quantum mechanics. The website includes about 80 short articles written by experts in the field and 17 interactive simulations with accompanying activities for an introductory course in quantum mechanics starting from two-level systems. The articles are arranged according to five themes, including a focus on quantum information, interpretations of quantum mechanics, the mathematical structure of the theory, physics applications and historical experiments. The resources make topics such as entanglement, hidden variables and quantum information theory accessible to introductory-level students. They can be used flexibly for a variety of instructional aims at both the introductory and more advanced level. The website includes links to pre-readings, suggestions for further reading, a glossary of technical terms and allows users to rate their understanding of articles.Sharing of these resources is encouraged, with all usage under the Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND licence. Solutions to problems and activities are available for instructors by emailing [email protected]. Instructors interested in evaluating these resources with their students in order to help us further develop and optimize the site are requested to contact the corresponding author

Optimization Of Simulations And Activities For A New Introductory Quantum Mechanics Curriculum

The Institute of Physics New Quantum Curriculum (quantumphysics.iop.org) consists of online texts and interactive simulations with accompanying activities for an introductory course in quantum mechanics starting from two-level systems. Observation sessions and analysis of homework and survey responses from in-class trials were used to optimize the simulations and activities in terms of clarity, ease-of-use, promoting exploration, sense-making and linking of multiple representations. This work led to revisions of simulations and activities and general design principles which have been incorporated wherever applicable. This article describes the optimization of one of the simulation controls and the refinement of activities to help students make direct connections between multiple representations.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure; submitted to the Proceedings of the 2013 Physics Education Research Conference. appears in 2013 PERC Proceedings [Portland, OR, July 17-18, 2013], edited by P. V. Engelhardt, A. D. Churukian, and D. L. Jone

The memory space: Exploring future uses of Web 2.0 and mobile internet through design interventions.

The QuVis Quantum Mechanics Visualization project aims to address challenges of quantum mechanics instruction through the development of interactive simulations for the learning and teaching of quantum mechanics. In this article, we describe evaluation of simulations focusing on two-level systems developed as part of the Institute of Physics Quantum Physics resources. Simulations are research-based and have been iteratively refined using student feedback in individual observation sessions and in-class trials. We give evidence that these simulations are helping students learn quantum mechanics concepts at both the introductory and advanced undergraduate level, and that students perceive simulations to be beneficial to their learning.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures, 1 table; accepted for publication in the American Journal of Physic