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• Voutsina, Lambrini
• Ravanis, Konstantinos

This study documents the mental representations of magnetism constructed by students aged 15‐17 and attempts to investigate whether these display the characteristics of models with an inner cohesiveness and constancy; whether they share common features with typical historical models of the Sciences; and whether they evolve through conventional teaching. Using the part of the history of physics that refers to magnetism and the research data available, we put together a questionnaire and carried out structured interviews with a total of 40 students from the 10th and 11th grades. The results showed that a small number of students is able to express reasoning within the framework of a structured model by which to approach magnetic phenomena and that this reasoning changes according to the teaching received. We also observed similarities between some of the students’ representations and those of scientists from the past, though not of a wide range.

• Educational sciences

• Εκπαίδευση

Magnetism, students’ mental representations, history of physics

We would like to thank the students of the 4th High School of Agrinio for their participation in this research.