Bijaya Aryal
Kansas State University
Department of Physics

Student Use of Physical Models to Transfer Learning:  Examples from 
Positron Emission Tomography

Physical models can play an important role as students transfer prior 
ideas to understand the physics of positron emission tomography. This 
study includes different types of physical models which were used during 
teaching interview sessions. The study was carried out in two phases. In 
the first phase students participated individually in the sessions whereas 
in the second phase other students participated in groups. The result of 
the study indicates that different modes of physical models can trigger 
different kinds of conceptual resources. The activation of the relevant 
resources in a given context was enhanced through proper sequencing of the 
teaching activities. The majority of the students who participated in this 
study were able to transfer the ideas learned through the physical models 
and apply them to physics of positron emission tomography technology. The 
alteration of the sequence of terms used in the work sheets or interview 
questions led students in completely different paths of approaching 
problem. This study also shows that students' approach and performance in 
problem solving was significantly different in groups than in individual.