Abstract
This paper focuses on difficulties linked to physical situations implying two models: geometrical optics and wave optics. The starting point is an investigation of students’ difficulties, at university level, in this respect. A content analysis is presented, that underlines two main features required in order to deal with such situations: ≪backward selection≫ of paths of light and awareness of the status of the drawings. Teachers’ viewpoints, collected through ten interviews, concerning students’ difficulties as well as various possible presentations of the contents, make it possible to infer some likely obstacles and possible facilitating factors in the communication of an innovative teaching process in line with our content analysis. The paper ends in a discussion of such a ≪bridging≫ approach for the design of research-based teaching programmes.
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References
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Colin, P. (2001). Two Models for a Physical Situation: the Case of Optics. Students’ Difficulties, Teachers’ Viewpoints and Guidelines for a ≪Didactic Structure≫. In: Behrendt, H., et al. Research in Science Education - Past, Present, and Future. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47639-8_32
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47639-8_32
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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