Strategies to help students learn quantum mechanics using research-validated tools

Learning quantum mechanics is challenging.~ To help improve student understanding of quantum mechanics concepts, we have been conducting investigation of the difficulties that students have in learning quantum mechanics and we are using research as a guide to develop Quantum Interactive Learning Tutorials (QuILTs) as well as tools for peer-instruction. The goal of QuILTs and peer-instruction tools is to actively engage students in the learning process and to help them build links between the formalism and the conceptual aspects of quantum physics.~These learning tools focus on helping students integrate qualitative and quantitative understanding without compromising technical content.~ In this talk, I will discuss a framework for understanding students' difficulties in quantum mechanics and give examples of how research-validated learning tools and pedagogies can help students develop a good grasp of quantum mechanics. .