Eleven semesters of administering the Moreira-Axt test in thermodynamics to physics majors

Abstract

The test on thermodynamics designed by M.A. Moreira and R. Art has been applied during eleven undergraduated terms on that subject in the Physics Department of the Faculty of Sciences of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, as a tool of the so called meaningful learning. The following are some of the main results obtained, averaged over the eleven terms: 1) only 54% of the scores are correct when the test is applied at the beginning of the term

2) a relative increment of 40% is obtained as a result of the course in thermodynamics

3) the final test score and the final score by conceptual ordinary examinations of the course almost coincide. This fact could be due to the emphasis given in the classroom both to the learning of the basic concepts of thermodynamics as to the understanding of the "alternative" or "previous concepts" of the student.