Work in progress - Using tablet PCs to strengthen problem-solving skills in an upper-level engineering physics course

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank V. Kowalski ◽  
Tolga Gok ◽  
Susan E. Kowalski
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
Work In Progress ◽  
Tablet Pcs ◽  
Upper Level ◽  
Physics Course ◽  
Engineering Physics

scholarly journals Samani and Pan (2021) Interleaving enhances memory and problem-solving skills in physics

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOSHUA SAMANI ◽  
Steven C. Pan
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Introductory Physics ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
University Level ◽  
Physics Course

We investigated whether continuously alternating between topics during practice, or interleaved practice, improves memory and the ability to solve problems in undergraduate physics. Over eight weeks, students in two lecture sections of a university-level introductory physics course completed thrice-weekly homework assignments, each containing problems that were interleaved (i.e., alternating topics) or conventionally arranged (i.e., one topic practiced at a time). On two surprise criterial tests containing novel and more challenging problems, students recalled more relevant information and more frequently produced correct solutions after having engaged in interleaved practice (with observed median improvements of 50% on test 1 and 125% on test 2). Despite benefiting more from interleaved practice, students tended to rate the technique as more difficult and incorrectly believed that they learned less from it. Thus, in a domain that entails considerable amounts of problem-solving, replacing conventionally-arranged with interleaved homework can (despite perceptions to the contrary) foster longer-lasting and more generalizable learning.

scholarly journals Topic Order in Introductory Physics and its Impact on the STEM Curricular Ladder

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa L Larkin
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Student Learning ◽  
Introductory Physics ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
First Semester ◽  
Physics Courses ◽  
Introductory Course ◽  
Electricity And Magnetism ◽  
Physics Course ◽  
Introductory Physics Courses

Introductory physics courses are an important rung on the curricular ladder in STEM. These courses help to strengthen students critical thinking and problem solving skills while simultaneously introducing them to many topics they will explore in more detail in later courses in physics and engineering. For these reasons, introductory physics is a required element on the curricular ladder. Most often, introductory physics is offered as a two-semester sequence with basic mechanics being taught in the first semester and electricity and magnetism in the second. In fact, this curricular sequence has not been altered in decades. Is there a reason for this? There are many other enduring questions that arise pertaining to these foundation courses in physics. These questions include: Does taking the introductory course sequence “out of order” have an impact on student learning in physics? What topics should be taught? When should these topics be taught? What topics could be left out? The list of questions is essentially endless. This paper will address some of these questions in part, through a brief discussion on student learning in a second-semester algebra-based physics course. Connections will also be made to the broader curricular ladder in STEM. To this end, an illustration that makes connections to an engineering statics course will be presented. This discussion will conclude by presenting some broader implications for the larger STEM communities.

scholarly journals Problem solving in the physics classroom. An analysis with secondary school students

2022 ◽  
Vol 2163 (1) ◽  
pp. 012010
Author(s):  
C A Hernández-Suarez ◽  
L S Paz-Montes ◽  
W R Avendaño Castro
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Careful Analysis ◽  
Pedagogical Practice ◽  
Physics Teaching ◽  
School Students ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Positive Assessment ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Physics Course

Abstract The teaching of science, and specifically physics, has been associated with the acquisition of knowledge with a particular emphasis on problem solving, as an activity that brings students closer to the methodology and meaningful learning of science. However, problem solving is perhaps one of the sources of failure in physics teaching, which requires a careful analysis of this didactic activity. Therefore, the aim of this work is to analyze the development of students’ problem-solving skills in a physics course. An analysis is presented using the quasi-experimental method through the application of a pre-test – post-test, for which a methodological intervention was used based on the problem-solving competence, which focused on identifying errors and difficulties by the students themselves and thus favoring the learning and development of this competence, which allowed the academic progress of the students to be analyzed. It is concluded that the intervention supported by problem solving improves students’ performance, in addition to the positive assessment they make of the process, as well as its influence on the change in pedagogical practice.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document