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 The Scourge of Online Solutions and an Academic Hertzsprung–Russell Diagram

2021 ◽  
Vol 03 (02) ◽  
pp. 2150007
Author(s):  
James Overduin ◽  
Jacob Buchman ◽  
Jonathan Perry ◽  
Thomas Krause
Keyword(s):  
Student Achievement ◽  
Student Learning ◽  
Student Performance ◽  
Main Sequence ◽  
Statistical Study ◽  
Introductory Physics ◽  
Present Evidence ◽  
Student Effort ◽  
Physics Courses ◽  
Introductory Physics Courses

We report on preliminary results of a statistical study of student performance in more than a decade of calculus-based introductory physics courses. Treating average homework and test grades as proxies for student effort and comprehension, respectively, we plot comprehension versus effort in an academic version of the astronomical Hertzsprung–Russell diagram (which plots stellar luminosity versus temperature). We study the evolution of this diagram with time, finding that the “academic main sequence” has begun to break down in recent years as student achievement on tests has become decoupled from homework grades. We present evidence that this breakdown is likely related to the emergence of easily accessible online solutions to most textbook problems, and discuss possible responses and strategies for maintaining and enhancing student learning in the online era.

scholarly journals A longitudinal analysis of students’ motivational characteristics in introductory physics courses: Gender differences

2018 ◽  
Vol 96 (4) ◽  
pp. 391-405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Marshman ◽  
Zeynep Y. Kalender ◽  
Christian Schunn ◽  
Timothy Nokes-Malach ◽  
Chandralekha Singh
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Analysis ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Introductory Physics ◽  
Learning Tools ◽  
Physics Courses ◽  
Course Sequence ◽  
Instruction And Learning ◽  
Physics Course ◽  
Introductory Physics Courses

The lack of diversity and the under-performance of underrepresented students in STEM courses have been the focus of researchers in the last decade. In particular, many hypotheses have been put forth for the reasons for the under-representation and under-performance of women in physics. Here, we present a framework for helping all students learn in science courses that takes into account four factors: (1) the characteristics of instruction and learning tools, (2) student characteristics, (3) implementation of instruction and learning tools, and (4) the students’ environments. While there has been much research on factor 1 (characteristics of instruction and learning tools), there has been less focus on factor 2 (students’ characteristics, and in particular, motivational factors). Here, we focus on the baseline characteristics of introductory physics students obtained from survey data to inform factor 2 of the framework. A longitudinal analysis of students’ motivational characteristics in two-semester introductory physics courses was performed by administering pre- and post-surveys that evaluated students’ self-efficacy, grit, fascination with physics, value associated with physics, intelligence mindset, and physics epistemology. We found that female students reported lower levels of self-efficacy, fascination, and value associated with physics, and held a more “fixed” view of intelligence in the context of physics compared to male students. Female students’ fascination and value associated with physics decreased significantly more than males’ after an introductory physics course sequence. In addition, females’ view of physics intelligence became more “fixed” compared to males’ by the end of an introductory physics course sequence. Grit was the only factor on which females reported averages that were equal to or higher than males throughout introductory physics courses. The findings inform the framework and have implications for the development and implementation of effective pedagogies and learning tools to help all students learn.

Exercises are problems too: implications for teaching problem-solving in introductory physics courses

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 055703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina Zuza ◽  
Mikel Garmendia ◽  
José-Ignacio Barragués ◽  
Jenaro Guisasola
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Introductory Physics ◽  
Physics Courses ◽  
Teaching Problem ◽  
Introductory Physics Courses

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 Instructional Design for Student Learning on Quantum Tunneling

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 27-34
Author(s):  
Shova Kanta Lamichhane
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Quantum Tunneling ◽  
Study Skills ◽  
Quantum Physics ◽  
Wave Functions ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
Physical Systems ◽  
Physics Courses ◽  
University Level ◽  
Physics Course

Acquiring mathematical, conceptual, and problem-solving skill is required in university-level physics courses. Average students often lack the knowledge and study skills need to succeed in physics, preciously in quantum physics course. The reasons for these difficulties are more subtle and some of them are brought to the surface. Addressing how to build models of wave functions and energy and how to relate these models to real physical systems is a challenging job. Article has opened up a floodgate of deep and difficult task for students struggle to make sense of these models. Article has discuss the difficulties and the real issues of student in learning quantum tunneling to build the models that are implicit in experts’ understanding. So that, in addition to class attendance and/or group study, students must also learn to work by themselves to develop the mathematical, conceptual, and problem-solving skills they need.The Himalayan PhysicsVol. 3, No. 32012Page : 27-34

VARIOUS KINDS OF PROBLEMS IN AN ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM ASSESSMENT WITHIN AN INTRODUCTORY PHYSICS COURSE FOR CHEMISTRY MAJORS

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukáš Richterek ◽  
◽  
František Látal ◽  
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Introductory Physics ◽  
Choice Test ◽  
Multiple Choice Test ◽  
Assessment Data ◽  
Score Difference ◽  
Electricity And Magnetism ◽  
Graph Reading ◽  
Conceptual Problems ◽  
Physics Course

An assessment is described in the introductory physics course for chemistry major students with the focus on solving problems from the electricity and magnetism. The experiences are summarised, obtained during the academic years 2014/2015, 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 from a multiple-choice test passed by 390 chemistry majors at the Faculty of Science in Olomouc. Various kinds of quiz problems were used, which can be divided into three categories: conceptual questions, numerical questions, questions with chart reading and interpretation. In the study assessment data are summarised and the score difference, achieved in the mentioned problem categories, is identified. The results did not prove that conceptual problems were more difficult for the set of students, but it is suggested, that students are more successful in the whole test to reach better scores in graph reading questions. Keywords: chemistry majors, physics course, university students.

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