Games for Teaching/Learning Quantum Mechanics: A Pilot Study with High-School Students

Abstract

The teaching of quantum physics is challenging, not the least because teachers must overcome the traditional narrative approach, students must gain a conceptual understanding of fundamentals, and citizens must become aware of quantum technologies. Quantum games are powerful tools to overcome obstacles and push one’s limits without fear of failure. We report on a pilot study involving twenty high-school student volunteers, consisting of a compact intervention module on the concepts of quantum states, properties, measurement, superposition, and entanglement within the framework of the Model of Educational Reconstruction, followed by playing a game, quantum TiqTaqToe. The outcomes of this research-based learning environment are discussed via the qualitative analysis of students’ answers to two open questionnaires. We find that students grasped the concepts of superposition and, with special awareness, entanglement, the game proving effective to help students experience their implications in quantum behavior. The informal and stimulating tournament atmosphere favored intertwining of the game with learning goals. Our central message is that the use of quantum game tools fits a teaching/learning environment in manners often not well understood in the literature; it enhances awareness of the nature of new and non-intuitive concepts, increases complementarity with other languages within the process of thinking about physics, boosts student engagement, and improves intervention efficiency and effectiveness.

An experiential program on the foundations of quantum mechanics for final-year high-school students

“…The data reported here are consistent with findings from a previous pilot study [49]. There, a thoroughly study on the role of QTTT in QM learning could be performed with a smaller group of students.…”

Quantum Tic-Tac-Toe - learning the concepts of quantum mechanics in a playful way

“…A recent study from Chiofalo et al [7] used the implementation available on https://www.quantumtictactoe.com/(accessed-on-3-Jan uary-2023) described in [27] to analyse the learning and understanding of high-school students. The research was conducted with twenty students in 2022.…”

Quantum games and interactive tools for quantum technologies outreach and education

“…For example, in one such experiment performed in a high school in Treviso (Italy), the Quantum TiqTaqToe video game was used as a central tool in a highly compact didactic intervention lasting just two afternoons (including a TiqTaqToe tournament) to educate students on the concepts of quantum state and measurement, quantum superposition, and entanglement. 124 Suitable evaluation tools in the form of questionnaires were designed for this purpose and analyzed; they showed a high degree of effectiveness of the quantum game in supporting the students' ability to develop an operational understanding of the aforementioned concepts. 124 Although much systematic research needs to be performed along similar directions, these first steps appear quite promising and encouraging.…”

“…124 Suitable evaluation tools in the form of questionnaires were designed for this purpose and analyzed; they showed a high degree of effectiveness of the quantum game in supporting the students' ability to develop an operational understanding of the aforementioned concepts. 124 Although much systematic research needs to be performed along similar directions, these first steps appear quite promising and encouraging.…”