scholarly journals Transforming the Learning Environment of Undergraduate Physics Laboratories to Enhance Physics Inquiry Processes

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory P. Thomas ◽  
Al Meldrum ◽  
John Beamish
Keyword(s):  
Learning Environment ◽  
Early Years ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Semester ◽  
Physics Laboratory ◽  
Physics Classes ◽  
Mixed Method Design ◽  
Physics Laboratories ◽  
First Time ◽  
Academic Year

Concerns persist regarding the lack of promotion of students’ scientific inquiry processes in undergraduate physics laboratories. The consensus in the literature is that, especially in the early years of undergraduate physics programs, students’ laboratory work is characterized by recipe type, step-by-step instructions for activities where the aim is often confirmation of an already well-established physics principle or concept. In response to evidence reflecting these concerns at their university, the authors successfully secured funding for this study. A mixed-method design was employed. In the 2011/2012 academic year baseline data were collected. A quantitative survey, the Undergraduate Physics Laboratory Learning Environment Scale (UPLLES) was developed, validated, and used to explore students’ perceptions of their physics laboratory environments. Analysis of data from the UPLLES and from interviews confirmed the concerns evident in the literature and in a previous evaluation of laboratories undertaken in 2002. To address these concerns the activities that students were to perform in the laboratory section of the course/s were re/designed to engage students in more inquiry oriented thinking and activity. In Fall 2012, the newly developed laboratory activities and tutorials, were implemented for the first time in PHYS124; a first year course. These changes were accompanied by structured training of teaching assistants and changes to the structure of the evaluation of students’ laboratory performance. At the end of that term the UPLLES was administered (n = 266) and interviews with students conducted (n = 16) to explore their perceptions of their laboratory environments. Statistically significant differences (p<.001) between the students in the PHYS 124 classes of 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 across all dimensions were found. Effect sizes of 0.82 to 1.3, between the views of students in the first semester physics classes of 2011/2012 and 2012/2013, were also calculated suggesting positive changes in the laboratory inquiry orientation. In their interviews, students confirmed and detailed these positive changes while still noting areas for future improvement.

Implementation of the Second-year course in an Engineering Professional Spine

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Umar Iqbal ◽  
Deena Salem ◽  
David Strong
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Research University ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Employability Skills ◽  
First Year ◽  
Computer Engineering ◽  
Core Courses ◽  
Second Year ◽  
First Time ◽  
Academic Year

The objective of this paper is to document the experience of developing and implementing a second-year course in an engineering professional spine that was developed in a first-tier research university and relies on project-based core courses. The main objective of this spine is to develop the students’ cognitive and employability skills that will allow them to stand out from the crowd of other engineering graduates.The spine was developed and delivered for the first time in the academic year 2010-2011 for first-year general engineering students. In the year 2011-2012, those students joined different programs, and accordingly the second-year course was tailored to align with the different programs’ learning outcomes. This paper discusses the development and implementation of the course in the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) department.

scholarly journals The Students’ Speaking Skill Analaysis on Local Wisdom- Based Topics (A Study at the First Year Grade of Mathematics Department of Unswagati)

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 143
Author(s):  
Devi Siti Afiah
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Method ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
First Semester ◽  
Wh Questions ◽  
Speaking Skill ◽  
Math Students ◽  
Academic Year ◽  
Local Materials ◽  
Mathematics Department

The goals of this research are (1) to know what students’ responses toward WH question tehnique; (2) to know whether the WH Question can improve students’ math in English. This research used the descriptive qualitative method. The writer described and analyzed the students’ mistakes in speaking skill using local materials. The research was carried out at the first year students of math department in 2016/2017 academic year. It was strated from September 2016 to January 2017. The population was the first semester students of math department in academic year of 2016/2017. The number of population were 21 students. The results of this research were (1) the tudents gave good responses toward the WH Questions learning, and (2) the WH questions improved the Math students’ ability in learning English. Keywords: Speaking, Local-wisdom, WH-questions

ANALISIS MODEL MENTAL SISWA DALAM PENERAPAN MODEL PEMBELAJARAN LEARNING CYCLE 8E PADA MATERI HIDROLISIS GARAM

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-51
Author(s):  
Waskitarini Darmiyanti ◽  
Yuli Rahmawati ◽  
Fera Kurniadewi ◽  
Achmad Ridwan
Keyword(s):  
Learning Environment ◽  
Mental Model ◽  
Chemistry Education ◽  
Model Development ◽  
Deep Understanding ◽  
Learning Cycle ◽  
First Semester ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Academic Year ◽  
Depth Interviews

This study aims to analyse the students’ mental model of students in SMA 42 Jakarta in the implementation of Learning Cycle 8E learning model on salt hydrolysis learning. This research was conducted in first semester of 2016/2017 academic year. There are 36 students of year XI in MIPA 5 was involved in the study. This qualitative research was conducted with the data collection of writing-drawing technique, in-depth interviews, classroom observation, student journal reflective. The Miles and Huberman data analysis was employed with quality standards of data reduction, display data, and verification. Class observation conducted before and after the learning Cycle 8E was implemented for understanding, the characteristics of students and classroom learning environment. The interview technique was conducted to have deep understanding the students’ mental model. The result showed that the students developed understanding on the concept of hydrolysis reaction process and pH of salt solution which were generated categories of understanding, not understanding, and misconception. The three categories are seen from the four stages of the learning Cycle 8E which are explore, elaborate, extend, and explain. students’ understanding and mental model development are influenced by the learning environment and prior knowledge. This model also has developed students’ soft skills of empathy communication, critical thinking and collaboration skills. Keyword: Chemistry Education, Mental Model, Salt Hydrolysis, Learning Cycle 8E

scholarly journals The Effectiveness of Collaborative Learning to Enhance English Communicative Competence: A Case Study of the First-Year Students at Thepsatri Rajabhat University

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Sasilak Rodphotong
Keyword(s):  
Collaborative Learning ◽  
Communicative Competence ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Satisfaction Questionnaire ◽  
First Semester ◽  
Post Test ◽  
School Schedule ◽  
Academic Year

The attempts of the present study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of collaborative learning to enhance English communicative competence and evaluating students’ satisfaction towards the instruction. The participants in this study were 1,471 the first-year students enrolled in the first semester, 2017 academic year. The students’ English proficiency according to the CEFR was A1. The instruments used were lesson plans, pre-test and post-test and satisfaction questionnaire. The lessons were comprised of various collaborative learning activities emphasizing at the following topics: self-introduction, school schedule, telling time, asking and giving information, food, leisure, describing people, describing things and giving direction. The period of experiment was 20 hours. The independent sample t-test was calculated to find the differences. The findings revealed that there were statistically significant differences at the level of .01 after teaching with collaborative learning. This indicated that the students’ communicative competence significantly improved. Besides, the satisfaction questionnaire was distributed at the end of the instruction and the results indicated that the students had a positive satisfaction towards the instruction.

scholarly journals Problems of social and psychological adaptation of students in conditions of social deprivation

2021 ◽  
Vol 273 ◽  
pp. 10027
Author(s):  
Elena Dvoinikova ◽  
Ekaterina Bakshutova ◽  
Natalya Beylina ◽  
Olga Telnova ◽  
Julia Vasilieva
Keyword(s):  
Social Deprivation ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Objective Measure ◽  
Psychological Adaptation ◽  
First Year ◽  
Structural Components ◽  
State Technical ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
First Semester ◽  
Academic Year

The article is devoted to changes in the level of empathy and some structural components of social and psychological adaptation caused by social deprivation in a pandemic, which is the purpose of the work. The paper presents the results of an empirical study conducted in the first semester of the 2020-2021 academic year, when Samara State Technical University students were on distance learning. The sample consisted of 248 first-year students. The basis of the observation is a longitudinal research, during which the communicative activity of students in interaction with the teacher and with each other was recorded. In addition, students solved situational problems containing a description of the conflict, for a way out of which they had to offer solutions: none, one or several. The study confirmed the hypothesis put forward about possible changes in the level of empathy, the ability to solve situational problems and social and psychological adaptation in general among students studying remotely. Isolation in a pandemic is an objective measure for which humanity was not ready.

scholarly journals First years enjoying physics? (The Undergraduate Physics Olympics)

2016 ◽  
pp. 49-52
Author(s):  
Lynn Moran
Keyword(s):  
Early Stage ◽  
Linear Acceleration ◽  
First Year Experience ◽  
First Year ◽  
Informal Environment ◽  
Team Spirit ◽  
Set Up ◽  
First Time ◽  
Senior Students ◽  
Academic Year

The Undergraduate Physics Olympics (UPO) was run for the first time in the second semester of the 2005/06 academic year. The aim of the event was to enhance the first year experience by organising teams of freshers to compete for prizes on a set of practical physics challenges. Over the course of an afternoon each team of 4 had to race against the clock to design and build a boat, set up and use their own code, and demonstrate linear acceleration in the park outside. Communication between students was encouraged by awarding points for bonus questions demonstrating good team spirit as they prepared for their first laboratory sessions together. The event also enabled students to be introduced to the departmental laboratories, and to the staff and more senior students in an informal environment, at an early stage in the year.

scholarly journals Using interactive screen experiments as pre-laboratory tasks to enhance student learning

2016 ◽  
pp. 24-27
Author(s):  
SJ Nolan ◽  
M Szablewski ◽  
TLJ McComb ◽  
IG Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Student Learning ◽  
Educational Background ◽  
Difficult Problem ◽  
First Year ◽  
Laboratory Equipment ◽  
Laboratory Experience ◽  
Physics Laboratory ◽  
First Time ◽  
Enhance Student Learning ◽  
Laboratory Task

The teaching of first year undergraduate practical physics is currently faced with a difficult problem: the disparity in the level of practical physics many university entrant students have encountered prior to their arrival. Those with little practical physics experience enter the laboratory for the first time with a great deal of anxiety, which represents a barrier to their learning. This anxiety is magnified when their fellow students, some of whom have significant practical laboratory experience in their recent educational background, deal easily with the same situation. At Durham University, Interactive Screen Experiments (ISEs) have been used to familiarise students with laboratory equipment as part of an assessed pre-laboratory task for the first year physics laboratory, after which they perform real experiments.

scholarly journals PENERAPAN MODEL PEMBELAJARAN CTL (CONTEXTUAL TEACHING AND LEARNING) UNTUK MENINGKATKAN MINAT DAN PARTISIPASI BELAJAR MAHASISWA

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 122
Author(s):  
Novi Mayasari
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
First Semester ◽  
Contextual Teaching ◽  
Classroom Action Research ◽  
Academic Year

<em>This research is a Classroom Action Research (CAR) which is meant to understand whether or not the implementation of CTL Model can improve student’s interest and participation in learning of First year students of Calculus 1 class in their first semester of IKIP PGRI Bojonegoro in academic year of 2015/2016. The result shows that the application of CTL model can improve student’s interest and participation in learning of first year students in Calculus 1class in IKIP PGRI Bojonegoro in academic year of 2015/2016.</em>

scholarly journals Analysis Students’ Speaking Skill Based on Local Material at First Semester in English Department of Unswagati

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 96
Author(s):  
Devi Siti Sihatul Afiah
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Method ◽  
First Year ◽  
English Department ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
First Semester ◽  
Local Material ◽  
Speaking Skill ◽  
Academic Year ◽  
Local Materials

The  goals  of  this  research  were: (1) To analyze the students’ mistakes  in speaking skill; (2) To find out the difficulties of local topics in speaking. This  research  used  the  descrivtif  qualitative  method.  The  writer  described  and analyzed the students’ errors in speaking skill  and  the  difficulties  used  the  local materials. The research was carried out at the first year students of english department in 2015/2016 academic year. it was strated from Februari to May 2016. The population was  the  first  semester  students  of  english  department  in  academic  year  of  2015/2016. The number of population was 27 students. The results of this research were: (1) lots of students were able to speak well and few of them were still lack (2) Some of students felt difficult to use some words of local tpoics in speaking

scholarly journals Aspects of Academic Performance and Ethics in the Transition to eLearning Caused by the Actual Pandemic - A case study

TEM Journal ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 656-661
Author(s):  
Petre Lucian Ogrutan ◽  
Lia Elena Aciu
Keyword(s):  
Academic Performance ◽  
Academic Integrity ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
First Year ◽  
Distance Teaching ◽  
First Semester ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Academic Year ◽  
School Activity

In the actual context of a great diversity of information sources, the discipline of Ethics and Academic Integrity (EAI) was introduced recently in the first year of the Master's studies. As part of the school activity, the access to anti-plagiarism software was made available to teachers and students. The current pandemic has forced the transition from classical classes to the use of the eLearning platform. In this paper the application of the methods of antiplagiarism verification to the distance teaching and the obtained results are described. The conclusions are expressed by comparing the results obtained for the discipline developed through the eLearning platform with those obtained in the previous years in a face-toface teaching manner and with those of the EAI discipline carried out in the first semester of this academic year as well.

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