1841 - Development of Semiclassical Tic-Tac-Toe for Introductory Quantum Mechanics Students

Author / Creator

AAPT WM21 (2021)

Conferences

AAPT WM21 A2.11 Quantum Physics in Introductory Courses II (2021)

Available as

Online

Summary

Quantum tic-tac-toe (QTTT) is an educational tool illustrating novel features of quantum systems. Most versions include states, superposition, collapse, and entanglement. While QTTT can provide a f...

Quantum tic-tac-toe (QTTT) is an educational tool illustrating novel features of quantum systems. Most versions include states, superposition, collapse, and entanglement. While QTTT can provide a foundation for understanding quantum principles, QTTT can also be overwhelming for students new to quantum mechanics. In this talk, we introduce a simplified version of QTTT that does not include entanglement: semiclassical tic-tac-toe (STTT). As a first step toward a systematic development of interactive quantum computing demonstrations and curriculum, we have designed materials for an STTT lesson plan and pilot study. Materials include a pre- and post-test over basic quantum mechanical ideas, an instructor's guide to STTT and QTTT, and a classroom-ready Python-based program featuring classical tic-tac-toe, STTT, and QTTT. We are implementing a pilot study to explore their effectivness in communicating scientific content and the extent to which the inclusion of STTT might enhance student knowledge in introductory physics courses.

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