Reasons And Countermeasures For The Difficulties Of Senior High School Students In Learning Newton’s Laws Of Motion

Senior high school students may encounter various difficulties when learning Newton’s Laws of Motion. In this study, we investigated 132 senior one students using FCI table, in order to find out the students’ difficulties in studying Newtonian mechanics, and analyze the cause of these difficulties. The first investigation was carried out in these senior one students when they were newly enrolled. In this step, we found out the students’ former concepts before learning the Newton’s Laws. The factors which might affect the formation of these former concepts were although explored through verbal communications. After discovering the obstacle for students’learning and the reasons for them, we developed new strategy for the teaching process. After finishing the teaching process of this chapter, a further questionnaire was conducted in these 132 students, with the students in other parallel classes as control. Our result shows that, when suitable strategies are applied in arousing cognitive conflict, developing logical mind, increasing knowledge migration ability and extending experimental capability, it would help students to correct their false former concepts, and reduce difficulties in learning Newtonian mechanics. Some life experience derived false former concepts are affected by different contexts, which need constantly strengthen to correct Conclusively, we should pay more attention to students’ former concepts, and explore the students’ difficulty in study as well as the reasons for that. These would help teachers amend teaching strategies so as to enhance teaching effect.