Atomic Learning Objectives Labeling: A High-Resolution Approach for Physics Education

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Liu, Naiming, Sonkar, Shashank, Mallick, Debshila Basu, Baraniuk, Richard, Chen, Zhongzhou
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Liu, Naiming
Sonkar, Shashank
Mallick, Debshila Basu
Baraniuk, Richard
Chen, Zhongzhou
author_facet Liu, Naiming
Sonkar, Shashank
Mallick, Debshila Basu
Baraniuk, Richard
Chen, Zhongzhou
contents This paper introduces a novel approach to create a high-resolution "map" for physics learning: an "atomic" learning objectives (LOs) system designed to capture detailed cognitive processes and concepts required for problem solving in a college-level introductory physics course. Our method leverages Large Language Models (LLMs) for automated labeling of physics questions and introduces a comprehensive set of metrics to evaluate the quality of the labeling outcomes. The atomic LO system, covering nine chapters of an introductory physics course, uses a "subject-verb-object'' structure to represent specific cognitive processes. We apply this system to 131 questions from expert-curated question banks and the OpenStax University Physics textbook. Each question is labeled with 1-8 atomic LOs across three chapters. Through extensive experiments using various prompting strategies and LLMs, we compare automated LOs labeling results against human expert labeling. Our analysis reveals both the strengths and limitations of LLMs, providing insight into LLMs reasoning processes for labeling LOs and identifying areas for improvement in LOs system design. Our work contributes to the field of learning analytics by proposing a more granular approach to mapping learning objectives with questions. Our findings have significant implications for the development of intelligent tutoring systems and personalized learning pathways in STEM education, paving the way for more effective "learning GPS'' systems.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2412_09914
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Atomic Learning Objectives Labeling: A High-Resolution Approach for Physics Education
Liu, Naiming
Sonkar, Shashank
Mallick, Debshila Basu
Baraniuk, Richard
Chen, Zhongzhou
Computers and Society
This paper introduces a novel approach to create a high-resolution "map" for physics learning: an "atomic" learning objectives (LOs) system designed to capture detailed cognitive processes and concepts required for problem solving in a college-level introductory physics course. Our method leverages Large Language Models (LLMs) for automated labeling of physics questions and introduces a comprehensive set of metrics to evaluate the quality of the labeling outcomes. The atomic LO system, covering nine chapters of an introductory physics course, uses a "subject-verb-object'' structure to represent specific cognitive processes. We apply this system to 131 questions from expert-curated question banks and the OpenStax University Physics textbook. Each question is labeled with 1-8 atomic LOs across three chapters. Through extensive experiments using various prompting strategies and LLMs, we compare automated LOs labeling results against human expert labeling. Our analysis reveals both the strengths and limitations of LLMs, providing insight into LLMs reasoning processes for labeling LOs and identifying areas for improvement in LOs system design. Our work contributes to the field of learning analytics by proposing a more granular approach to mapping learning objectives with questions. Our findings have significant implications for the development of intelligent tutoring systems and personalized learning pathways in STEM education, paving the way for more effective "learning GPS'' systems.
title Atomic Learning Objectives Labeling: A High-Resolution Approach for Physics Education
topic Computers and Society
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2412.09914