Observing students' strategy in solving kinematics problems

Abstract

A study on the observation of students' strategy in solving kinematics problems was conducted in the first semester of academic year 2006−2007. A lecture was conducted on kinematics which includes the derivations of equations, graphical analysis, uniform motion, uniformly accelerated motion and problem solving. Students were then asked to solve two problems on kinematics. Their strategies were classified into three: "Fitting-variables-to-equation," "Checking-the-physical-consistency" and "Association" styles.