Are Physics Students Algoritmic Problem Solvers or Conceptual Thinkers
Bahattin Düzgün, Sabriye Seven, S. Işık Aytaş · DergiPark (Istanbul University) · 2013
In this study, Total 80 students in fourth class of Physics Department at Faculty of Education, Atatürk University participated in to the study which investigated to understand if physics students are algoritmic problem solvers or conceptual thinkers.The students were given five pairs of questions which had been selected from the subject matters taught in the first seven semestres. And the students were asked to solve the problems using the methods they were previously provided. The “bright” students wanted to understand “why” of physics and they preferred to solve problems using concepts rather than algoritmic problem solving.Key Words: Algorithm, Conceptual thinkers, Education