Jochen Kuhn

• Prof. Dr. habil., Professor of Physics Education
• Professor (Full) at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich

Recently, the option to use large language models as a middleware connecting various AI tools and other large language models led to the development of so-called large multimodal foundation models, which have the power to process spoken text, music, images and videos. In this overview, we explain a new set of opportunities and challenges that arise...

The field of Quantum Information Science and Technology (QIST) education presents unique challenges for both students and educators, such as the necessity of understanding abstract properties of quantum systems. To provide a more intuitive understanding of quantum systems, a multitude of qubit representations have been developed in recent years. Gi...

Previous research has shown that inquiry-based learning through hands-on experiments, as well as learning with multiple, external representations (MERs) can promote the understanding of complex phenomena in physics. In this context, augmented reality (AR) smartglasses make it possible to superimpose real experiments with virtually presented informa...

Quantum cryptography is a central topic in the quantum technology field that is particularly important for secure communication. The training of qualified experts in this field is necessary for continuous development. However, the abstract and complex nature of quantum physics makes the topic difficult to understand. Augmented reality (AR) allows o...

Graphical differentiation substantially promotes the understanding of basic concepts of calculus. At the same time, such tasks are challenging for many students. To be able to support students in complex tasks during the solution process, it is important to recognise if students are having difficulties and, if so, to identify precisely what the dif...

Recent research indicates that the use of multiple external representations MERs has the potential to support learning, especially in complex scientific areas, such as quantum physics. In particular, the provision of informationally redundant external representations can have advantageous effects on learning outcomes. This is of special relevance f...

Mit Clipstro lassen sich Stroboskopbilder unkompliziert erzeugen, was insbesondere eine qualitative Analyse von Bewegungen ermöglicht. Die App kombiniert dazu mehrere Frames eines Videos zu einem Gesamtbild.

Effectively supporting students in mastering all facets of self-regulated learning is a central aim of teachers and educational researchers. Prior research could demonstrate that formative feedback is an effective way to support students during self-regulated learning. In this light, we propose the application of Large Language Models (LLMs) to gui...

The present review intends to show the current state of teaching quantum-related content, to analyze and compare its learning efficiency, and to give a systemized overview of quantum-educational activities in the last years. We focus on teaching and learning elements, their innovative tools, and process-oriented studies that are empirically validat...

Graphs are essential representations in the professions and education concerning the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Beyond their academic relevance, graphs find extensive utility in everyday scenarios, ranging from news media to educational materials. This underscores the importance of people's being able to u...

The pervasive digitization of society underscores the crucial role of data and its significant impact on decision-making across various domains. As a result, it is essential for individuals to acquire competencies in handling data. This need is particularly pertinent in K-12 education, where early engagement with data and statistics can lay a found...

Die LiDAR‐Sensoren in modernen Smartphones und Tablets verpacken jede Menge spannende Physik auf engstem Raum. Mit Motion Visualizer der App Physics Toolbox lassen sich so die Konzepte Ort, Geschwindigkeit und Beschleunigung in Form eines Bewegungsspiels erschließen.

Graphical representations of data are common in many disciplines. Previous research has found that physics students appear to have better graph comprehension skills than students from social science disciplines, regardless of the task context. However, the graph comprehension skills of physics students have not yet been compared with (veterinary) m...

Quantum cryptography is a central topic in the quantum technology field that is particularly important for secure communication. The training of qualified experts in this field is necessary for continuous development. However, the abstract and complex nature of quantum physics makes the topic difficult to understand. Augmented reality (AR) allows o...

With the advent and development of real-world quantum technology applications, a practically-focused quantum education including student quantum experiments are gaining increasing importance in physics curricula. In this paper, using the DeFT framework, we present an analysis of the representations in our AR-enhanced quantum cryptography student ex...

Over the last decades, a multitude of results in educational and psychological research have shown that the implementation of multiple external representations (MERs) in educational contexts represents a valuable tool for fostering learning and problem-solving skills. The context of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education...

Augmented Reality (AR) can enhance student-centered lab work by bridging the spatial and temporal split between virtual information and observed real-world phenomena. While the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning and the Cognitive Load Theory suggest that AR can reduce extraneous cognitive load (ECL) and foster learning, the empirical results r...

Introduction The recent advances of large language models (LLMs) have opened a wide range of opportunities, but at the same time, they pose numerous challenges and questions that research needs to answer. One of the main challenges are the quality and correctness of the output of LLMs as well as the overreliance of students on the output without cr...

Artificial intelligence (AI) systems like ChatGPT can be used in education to create physics problems and guide inquiry-based learning, a collaborative approach where learners actively construct knowledge through problem solving. This approach promotes deeper cognitive processing and enhances long-term retention, as opposed to the passive reception...

The field of Quantum Information Science and Technology (QIST) education presents unique challenges for both students and educators, such as the necessity of understanding abstract properties of quantum systems. To provide a more intuitive understanding of quantum systems, a multitude of qubit representations have been developed in recent years. Gi...

The emergence of (multimodal) chatbots such as ChatGPT and ChatGPT-4.0-Turbo in education presents a unique opportunity for physics teachers to enhance their instructional methods. These advancements allow teachers to provide more effective and personalized educational experiences to their students. They can be used to generate content and interact...

As distance learning becomes increasingly important and artificial intelligence tools continue to advance, automated systems for individual learning have attracted significant attention. However, the scarcity of open-source online tools that are capable of providing personalized feedback has restricted the widespread implementation of research-base...

In quantum physics (QP) education, the use of representations such as diagrams and visual aids that connect to mathematical concepts is crucial. Research in representation theory indicates that combining symbolic-mathematical elements (e.g. formulae) with visual-graphical representations enhances conceptual understanding more effectively than repre...

MIN-Unterricht durch digitale Technologien anzureichern, birgt das Potenzial, dessen Wirksamkeit hinsichtlich seiner Adaptivität und Effektivität maßgeblich zu steigern. Aus bisheriger Forschung ist jedoch bekannt, dass viele Lehrkräfte nur bedingt über Wissen und Können zum Einsatz digitaler Technologien im MIN-Unterricht verfügen. Es besteht dahe...

The COVID-19 pandemic meant we spent a lot of time in video calls and remote teaching and learning. Other methods of teaching and learning, such as laboratory practical work, were not so easy to digitise from their in-person forms. Although originally conceived as an investigation into differing types of media and representational forms, infection...

Zusammenfassung Eine zentrale Herausforderung der Unterrichtswissenschaft bzw. der unterrichtsbezogenen Lehr-Lern-Forschung stellt ohne Frage die gewinnbringende Nutzung Künstlicher Intelligenz dar. Obwohl Künstliche Intelligenz (KI) in den letzten Jahren und Jahrzehnten zunehmend Einzug in unseren Alltag gehalten hat (z. B. im Rahmen der Sprachste...

In the rapidly evolving interdisciplinary field of quantum information science and technology, a big obstacle is the necessity of understanding high-level mathematics to solve complex problems. Visualizations like the (dimensional) circle notation enable us to visualize not only single-qubit but also complex multi-qubit states, entanglement, and qu...

The general availability of large language models and thus unrestricted usage in sensitive areas of everyday life, such as education, remains a major debate. We argue that employing generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools warrants informed usage and examined their impact on problem solving strategies in higher education. In a study, students...

The recognition and distinction of typical interference and diffraction patterns are among the expected learning outcomes of studying wave optics. Previous studies have reported high school students’ difficulties with this task. In this study, we investigated university students’ ability to distinguish typical wave optics patterns obtained by the d...

Classical statistical analysis of data can be complemented or replaced with data analysis based on machine learning. However, in certain disciplines, such as education research, studies are frequently limited to small datasets, which raises several questions regarding biases and coincidentally positive results. In this study, we present a refined a...

Die Schallanalyse‐App Spektroskop erlaubt, Frequenzspektren in hoher Qualität darzustellen und quantitativ auszuwerten. Wesentliche Vorteile gegenüber vergleichbaren Apps sind ihre einfache Bedienung sowie die Möglichkeit, mehrere Frequenzspektren gleichzeitig darzustellen. Das demonstriert hier die Analyse des sogenannten Residualtonhörens.

In the field of quantum information science and technology, the representation and visualization of quantum states and related processes are essential for both research and education. In this context, a focus lies especially on ensembles of few qubits. There exist many powerful representations for single-qubit and multiqubit systems, such as the fa...

This work introduces dynamic methods for enhancing the teaching of particle-physics concepts in school education, through the visualization of the ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) particle detector.1 Combining the ALICE LEGO model and augmented reality (AR), we present engaging and interactive ways for physics teachers to introduce their stu...

Analysen von Absorptions- und Emissionsspektren zählen zu den grundlegenden Versuchen in der Atomphysik in Schule und Hochschule. Die App Vernier Spectral Analysis steuert ein kompaktes Spektrometer und erlaubt eine detaillierte Darstellung und Auswertung der Spektren.

As distance learning becomes increasingly important and artificial intelligence tools continue to advance, automated systems for individual learning have attracted significant attention. However, the scarcity of open-source online tools that are capable of providing personalized feedback has restricted the widespread implementation of research-base...

Large language models have made great advances in the past years, creating compelling responses to extended verbal inputs. After the release of ChatGPT 3.5, researchers have identified several opportunities and challenges of large language models in various fields of education. However, at that point, it was unforeseeable how fast a multitude of te...

The increased presence of large language models (LLMs) in educational settings has ignited debates concerning negative repercussions, including overreliance and inadequate task reflection. Our work advocates moderated usage of such models, designed in a way that supports students and encourages critical thinking. We developed two moderated interact...

Effectively supporting students in mastering all facets of self-regulated learning is a central aim of teachers and educational researchers. Prior research could demonstrate that formative feedback is an effective way to support students during self-regulated learning (SRL). However, for formative feedback to be effective, it needs to be tailored t...

Statistical and data literacy have emerged as key competencies in the 21st-century. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) curricula have been adapted in various countries to place increased emphasis on proficient data use and statistical comprehension. Consequently, there is a need for an adequate education and professional train...

Mittlerweile werden in Smartphones immer mehr Sensoren verbaut, welche die Nutzerfreundlichkeit erhöhen sollen. So finden sich in einigen Modellen Lidar‐Sensoren, die unter anderem zur Abstandsmessung genutzt werden können. Dieser Sensor ermöglicht weitere physikalische Untersuchungen, wie die Messung der Lichtgeschwindigkeit in Flüssigkeiten oder...

Generative AI technologies such as large language models show novel potential to enhance educational research. For example, generative large language models were shown to be capable of solving quantitative reasoning tasks in physics and concept tests such as the Force Concept Inventory (FCI). Given the importance of such concept inventories for phy...

Linear functions are an essential part of school and university education. Nevertheless, this topic is challenging for many students-especially in STEM topics. In this article, we contribute to the understanding of learning difficulties in the context of mathematical and physical problems. Here, we present the results of an eye-tracking study on vi...

The recent advancement of large language models presents numerous opportunities for teaching and learning. Despite widespread public debate regarding the use of large language models, empirical research on their opportunities and risks in education remains limited. In this work, we demonstrate the qualities and shortcomings of using ChatGPT 3.5 for...

Mit einer GPS‐Tracking‐App wie Geo‐Tracker kann man nicht nur aufzeichnen, wo man im Urlaub entlanggefahren ist. Mit Hilfe der Messdaten sind auch verschiedene kinematische Analysen von Bewegungen möglich.

Large language models (LLMs) have recently gained popularity. However, the impact of their general availability through ChatGPT on sensitive areas of everyday life, such as education, remains unclear. Nevertheless, the societal impact on established educational methods is already being experienced by both students and educators. Our work focuses on...

Generative AI technologies such as large language models show novel potentials to enhance educational research. For example, generative large language models were shown to be capable to solve quantitative reasoning tasks in physics and concept tests such as the Force Concept Inventory. Given the importance of such concept inventories for physics ed...

Research on educational Augmented Reality (AR) began approximately three decades ago, starting in the early 1990s. Since then, numerous systematic reviews and meta-analyses have synthesized evidence regarding its impact on learning. However, these analyses have reported mixed results, ranging from a small to a medium impact. Mixed results are commo...

Magnetische Feldlinien sind modellhafte Visualisierungen magnetischer Felder. Allerdings bringt ihre dreidimensionale Struktur das räumliche Vorstellungsvermögen vieler Lernender an seine Grenzen. Hier eignet sich die App Magna‐AR aus der Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite sehr gut, um spielerisch eine räumliche Vorstellung der magnetischen Feldlinien um...

Background Representational competence is commonly considered a prerequisite for the acquisition of conceptual knowledge, yet little exploration has been undertaken into the relation between these two constructs. Using an assessment instrument of representational competence with vector fields that functions without confounding topical context, we e...

In the field of quantum information science and technology, the representation and visualization of quantum states and related processes are essential for both research and education. In this context, a focus especially lies on ensembles of few qubits. There exist many powerful representations for single-qubit and multi-qubit systems, such as the f...

Das Projekt PhET (Physics Education Technology) der University of Colorado Boulder wurde von dem Physiknobelpreisträger Carl Wieman ins Leben gerufen. Zuerst entwickelte die Initiative interaktive Simulationen nur für den Physikunterricht, heute sind alle mathematisch‐naturwissenschaftlichen Fächer vertreten. Aktuell bietet PhET eine sehr breite Pa...

So far, there have only been a few articles in this column that discussed diffraction or augmented reality (AR) enhancements. In this article, we want to bring both aspects together and describe an experiment that can be used to investigate diffraction phenomena with low-cost materials and augmented reality in the classroom. Diffraction experiments...

Background: Context Based Science Education (CBSE) has a long-standing tradition and is discussed as a highly promising approach in science education. It is supposed that CBSE can foster pupils engagement and learning. However, classroom implementations of CBSE based on solid empirical evidence are surprisingly scarce. Purpose: The present research...

The recent advancement of large language models presents numerous opportunities for teaching and learning. Despite widespread public debate regarding the use of large language models, empirical research on their opportunities and risks in education remains limited. In this work, we demonstrate the qualities and shortcomings of using ChatGPT 3.5 for...

According to modern understanding, sliding friction is caused by the displacement of the irregularities and individual atoms in the interaction zone of the sliding interfaces, leading to microscopic oscillations around the equilibrium position (the stick/slip model of Tomlinson). This is in contrast to the traditional account of sliding friction (s...

Understanding scientific concepts is a fundamental aim of science education. Conceptual understanding can be fostered through inquiry learning with experiments. However, during the Covid-19 pandemic school closures hands-on experiments could hardly be realized. Fortunately, digital technologies allow for conducting experiments virtually by using in...

Zusammenfassung Digitale Medien, wie Smartphones und Tablet-PCs, sind im Alltag weitverbreitet. Die Mobilität dieser Geräte ermöglicht die Durchführung physikalischer Untersuchungen in einer für die Schülerinnen und Schüler alltäglichen, natürlichen Umgebung. Bei der Tablet-PC-gestützten Videoanalyse können natürliche Bewegungsabläufe, wie z. B. da...

The interpretation of graphs plays a pivotal role in education because it is relevant for understanding and representing data and comprehending concepts in various domains. Accordingly, many studies examine students’ gaze behavior by comparing different levels of expertise when interpreting graphs. This literature review presents an overview of 32...

Employing scientific practices to obtain and use information is one of the central facets of next generation science standards. Especially in quantum technology education, the ability to employ such practices is an essential skill to foster both academic success and technological development. In order to help educators design effective instructions...

Background Representational competence is commonly considered to be a prerequisite for the acquisition of conceptual knowledge, yet little exploration has been undertaken into the relation between these two constructs. Using an assessment of representational competence with vector fields that functions without confounding topical context, we examin...

Zusammenfassung Beim Lernen mit Experimenten spielt insbesondere die Verbindung der experimentellen Realität mit Modellvorstellungen und theoriebasierter Hypothesenbildung eine wichtige Rolle. Im Kontext der geometrischen Optik werden zur Vorhersage und Erklärung von optischen Abbildungen in Linsensystemen die sogenannten Konstruktionsstrahlen genu...

Large language models represent a significant advancement in the field of AI. The underlying technology is key to further innovations and, despite critical views and even bans within communities and regions, large language models are here to stay. This commentary presents the potential benefits and challenges of educational applications of large la...

Digitization offers new perspectives for educational research to identify the effects of visualizations regarding cognitive processing. In addition, new types of data can be generated, expanding the possibilities for visualizing cognitive processes and understanding human learning. Digital twins are already used in Industry 4.0, as an additional vi...

Eine Technologie, die in der Lehre immer mehr Verbreitung findet, ist Augmented Reality (AR). Nützlich für die Physik ist dabei die Möglichkeit, eine theoretische Modellvorstellung oder Darstellungen davon direkt auf das reale Experiment zu überblenden. So lässt sich eine Verbindung zwischen Modell und Realität herstellen. Die App „PUMA : Spannungs...

In introductory electric circuits in middle school, students often carry strongly held alternative conceptions. Common to many of these is an idea of electric current as some kind of substance that originates from the battery and moves toward electronic components. Learners often argue that current influences those one by one as they are encountere...

If different musical instruments produce a sound of the same frequency and amplitude, we can easily distinguish the instruments from each other and with little prior experience even name them correctly (Fig. 1). This is possible because each musical instrument has its own characteristic sound, which is called timbre. But what gives musical instrume...

Zusammenfassung Eyetracking bezeichnet die Erfassung und Analyse von Blickdaten und ermöglicht einen Einblick in die kognitiven Prozesse beim Lernen und damit die Identifikation von Lernhürden. Durch die Identifikation von Lernhürden eröffnet diese Methodik eine neuartige Möglichkeit zur Analyse und Verbesserung von Lernprozessen. In diesem Beitrag...

Affective and cognitive outcomes of science teaching in schools may be enhanced by science outreach labs (SOLs). Particularly interesting is whether and how to connect SOL visits to in-school science learning. Recent studies—among others, in this journal—have confirmed SOLs’ positive affective effects. However, research remains inconclusive regardi...

Graphen nehmen eine interdisziplinär zentrale Rolle bei der Darstellung von Messwerten und der Visualisierung mathematischer Funktionen ein. Durch ihre vielseitigen Einsatzmöglichkeiten und unterschiedlichen Komplexitätsgrade werden sie sowohl in den Sekundarstufen und der universitären Lehre als auch in wissenschaftlichen Publikationen und im öffe...

Statistical and data literacy are counted among the key competencies of the 21st century and are often set out as an expected outcome of school education. Accordingly, curricular adaptions of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education have been made in many countries with the aim of developing competencies that promote compe...

Adaptive Lernsysteme analysieren die Entwicklung des Lernenden und passen sich …individuell, z.B. durch eine KI-basierte Analyse der Problemlöseprozesse an. Bei den existierenden Systemen werden meist nur die mit Maus und Tastatur getätigten Eingaben ausgewertet. Die zusätzliche Erfassung und Analyse von Eye-Tracking-Daten können solche Systeme daz...

Im Fokus dieses Kapitels steht die Koordination multipler Repräsentationen (algebraische und grafische Darstellung) im Kontext von Vektorfeldern. Dabei wird eine Studie vorgestellt, bei der Studierende (N = 147) eine Formel einem als Skizze gegebenen Vektorfeld zuordnen und umgekehrt ein eigenes Vektorfeld bei gegebener Formel skizzieren mussten. F...

Preprint available at: https://psyarxiv.com/bf92d - Purpose: To advance the learning of professional practices in teacher education and medical education, this conceptual paper aims to introduce the idea of representational scaffolding for digital simulations in higher education. Design/methodology/approach: This study outlines the ideas of cor...

Optics is a core field in the curricula of secondary physics education. In this study, we present the development and validation of a test instrument in the field of optics, the ray optics in converging lenses concept inventory (ROC-CI). It was developed for and validated with middle school students, but can also be adapted for the use in higher le...

Dieser Artikel beschreibt Experimentiervorschläge zu den Keplerschen Gesetzen im Fach Physik, die anhand eines Modellexperiments mit einem Gravitationstrichter und einer computergestützten Simulation vertieft werden. Dabei steht dieArbeit mit Modellen im Vordergrund, wodurch Schüler/innen ein umfassendes Bild verschiedener Modelle für ein reales Ph...

Es gibt eine Vielzahl verschiedener Oszilloskop‐Apps, doch auch der Audio‐Editor WavePad lässt sich als Speicheroszilloskop einsetzen. Er bietet zwei Vorteile: Die Aufnahmezeit ist nicht auf einen Sekundenbruchteil begrenzt, und das Audiosignal lässt sich vielfältig bearbeiten.

This chapter describes a further experiment using the acceleration sensor of a smartphone. For a previous column on this topic, including the description of the operation and use of the acceleration sensor, see [1]. In this contribution we focus on analyzing simple pendulum phenomena. A smartphone is used as a pendulum bob, and SPARKvue [2] softwar...

In this contribution we describe an experiment in which radiation emitted by an infrared remote control is passed through a diffraction grating. An image of the diffraction pattern is captured using a cell phone camera and then used to determine the wavelength of the radiation Corresponding ideas were previously published in [1–3].

In this book several previous chapters focused on mechanics experiments that can be analyzed using a mobile video motion analysis (Chaps. 3, 11, 13, 27 and 36) [1–5]. However, the use of this method is also possible in completely different areas, which is the focus of this contribution.

This paper provides a first example of experiments in this column using smartphones as experimental tools. More examples concerning this special tool will follow in the next issues. The differences between a smartphone and a “regular” cell phone are that smartphones offer more advanced computing ability and connectivity. Smartphones combine the fun...

During the last few years, the growing boom of smartphones has given rise to a considerable number of applications exploiting the functionality of the sensors incorporated in these devices. A sector that has unexpectedly taken advantage of the power of these tools is physics teaching, as reflected in several recent papers [1–10]. In effect, the use...

Recent contributions about smartphone experiments have described their applications as experimental tools in different physical contexts [1–4]. They have established that smartphones facilitate experimental setups, thanks to the small size and diverse functions of mobile devices, in comparison to setups with computer-based measurements. In the expe...

In this example we describe how the speed of sound can be determined using simple stereo headphones (ear buds) and sound analysis freeware.

Built-in acceleration sensors of smartphones can be used gainfully for quantitative experiments in school and university settings (see the overview in Ref. 1). The physical issues in that case are manifold and apply, for example, to free fall (Chap. 6) [2], radial acceleration (Chap. 16) [3], several pendula (Chap. 29 and 32) [4, 5], or the exploit...

This contribution describes how different sound types can be explored using the microphone of a smartphone and a suitable app. Vibrating bodies, such as strings, membranes, or bars, generate air pressure fluctuations in their immediate vicinity, which propagate through the room in the form of sound waves. Depending on the triggering mechanism, it i...

This chapter describes two further pendulum experiments using the acceleration sensor of a smartphone in this book [for earlier contributions concerning this topic, including the description of the operation and use of the acceleration sensor, see Refs. [1] (Chap. 6) and [2] (Chap. 29)]. In this chapter we focus on analyzing spring pendulum phenome...

The importance of Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) in today’s research and industry [1] leads to the question of how to include such a key technology in physics education. Manfred Euler has developed an acoustic model experiment to illustrate the fundamental measuring principles based on an analogy between quantum mechanics and acoustics [2, 3]....

The importance of coupled oscillations for natural and engineering sciences is undisputed. But due to the complex processes behind the phenomena, its educational arrangement remains challenging.

In the field of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), technologies have made huge progress during the last years [1–3] and also reached the field of education [4, 5]. The virtuality continuum, ranging from pure virtuality on one side to the real world on the other [6], has been successfully covered by the use of immersive technologies li...