Effectiveness of an online homework tutorial about changing basis in quantum mechanics

TL;DR

This study evaluates an online tutorial designed to improve student understanding of changing basis in quantum mechanics, demonstrating its effectiveness through pre/post-tests and exam performance comparisons.

Contribution

It introduces a novel online tutorial for basis change in quantum mechanics and provides evidence of its educational effectiveness in upper-division courses.

Findings

Tutorial yields significant learning gains.

Students perform better on related exam questions.

Effective as homework in quantum mechanics courses.

Abstract

Changing basis is a common task when solving quantum mechanical problems. As part of a research project investigating student understanding of basis and change of basis in quantum mechanics, we developed a tutorial to support students in learning about basis in the context of spin-1/2 systems. We have since created an interactive online version of the basis tutorial as part of a freely available suite of online quantum tutorials called ACE Physics (acephysics.net). The ACE Physics tutorials include dynamic guidance elements and, unlike other tutorials, are intended for use outside the classroom without instructor facilitation. After extensive study in an instructor-supported environment, we assigned the ACE Physics basis tutorial as homework in two semesters of upper-division quantum mechanics, and we report on the effectiveness of the activity based on pre-/post-testing and comparison of student exam performance with a similar semester that did not include the activity. We find that the tutorial produces sufficient learning gains to justify continued assignment as a homework problem in our classes.