A Data Science Approach to Analyzing Students' Conceptions of Electron Potential Energy

Abstract

Understanding electron potential energy is essential for understanding energy transduction within living cells. This concept presents significant challenges to students. This study explores students' understanding of potential energy and the impact of academic training on this understanding. It reveals that many students have difficulty making meaningful connections between macroscopic analogies and atomic-scale phenomena. Undergraduate students showed greater conceptual difficulties, often confusing energy with force and expressing uncertainties about electrostatic interactions. In contrast, master's students demonstrated a deeper understanding, likely due to more advanced instruction. The results indicate that academic training significantly influences students' understanding of this concept. They also suggest the need for targeted teaching approaches at the undergraduate level to correct persistent misconceptions and develop a more coherent understanding of energy transformations at the molecular level. These insights offer concrete directions for developing future teaching strategies in biology programs.