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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Obstacles modelling reality: Two exploratory studies on physics defined and undefined problems

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For some researchers, and perhaps for many teachers, problem-solving is strongly related to thinking (Mayer, 1983). Several reports highlight the importance of developing suitable skills to solve complex, ill-defined and boundless real-life problems in educated people (NSF Standards, U.S. Department of Labour, ABET engineering accreditation organization, and American Institute of Physics, mentioned in Etkina & Van Heuvelen, 2007; Bureau of Labour Statistics, U.S. Department of Labour, 2014; Competency Model Clearinghouse, 2012). Problem-solving is virtually the core of the professional activity of a physicist (Etkina, Van Heuvelen, White-Brahmia, Brookes, Gentile, Murthy, Rosengrant & Warren, 2006; Sensevy, Tiberghien, Santini, Laube & Griggs, 2008). According to its importance, problem-solving is a central activity in physics courses at university to teach and to assess learning (Van Heuvelen, 1991; Nersessian, 1995). Therefore, instructional problem-solving has to be connected to the fundamental Science (Physics) educational goals. One of these Science main goals is to generate explanations about why the natural world is as it is. For that purpose Science generates, evaluates, contrasts and applies models. Modelling the real world to describe, explain and predict events in an accurate way is one of the main skills a physicist has to possess (Murthy & Etkina, 2004; Etkina et al, 2006; Sensevy et al, 2008). As these skills are not innate abilities in subjects and they are not part of people’s standard knowledge (as shown by the vast literature on children’s ideas about nature), they would not be developed if they were not involved in instructional tasks. A previous study (Truyol, 2006) showed that these particular skills were not properly developed in many university physics students. However, there is empirical evidence on the possibility of contributing to the oBstACLes MoDeLLInG ReALItY: tWo eXPLoRAtoRY stUDIes on PHYsICs DeFIneD AnD UnDeFIneD PRoBLeMs