Assessing Students’ Approaches and Perceptions to Learning in Physics Experiments Based on Simulations and At-Home Lab Kits

Our study evaluates students’ approaches to and perceptions of the use of hands-on at-home laboratory kits (HALK) experiments, open-source computer-based simulations (OSCBS), and their combination (OSCBS-HALK) in undergraduate introductory asynchronous online physics courses. Anonymous survey data from students who had completed online physics courses with labs based on simulations, at-home lab kits, or both were collected using a modified version of the Learn Questionnaire (MVLQ). Findings in this study indicate that among the six scales (interest and relevance; peer support; staff enthusiasm and support; teaching for understanding; alignment; and constructive feedback) used to measure students’ perceptions of the teaching and learning environments, interest and relevance, peer support, and teaching for understanding had statistically significant different means across the three lab types. Post-hoc comparisons using the Tukey HSD test for the interest and relevance scale indicated that students viewed using a combination approach of OSCBS and HALK labs (M = 3.98, SD = 0.61) more significantly positive than using computer-simulated labs only (M = 3.56, SD = 0.75). Compared to other labs, computer-simulated labs were perceived to lead to a deep approach to learning. However, they had the lowest interest and relevance, peer support, and alignment ranking among the three lab groups. Thus, developing strategies to improve students’ engagement and ability to translate the simulations into physical processes is recommended for OSCBS.

Evaluation Conducted With University Teachers on the General Physics Courses Taught at the National University of Costa Rica During 2014 and 2019

Objective. Evaluate the General Physics courses (theory and laboratory) of the Science Teaching career with the university teaching staff, in the period from 2014 to 2019, to identify the strengths and weaknesses in the methodology and propose new educational strategies. Method. The research was conducted through a virtual survey with the LimeSurvey software to the teachers who have taught Physics courses for the Science Teaching career in the last five years; the survey was applied to the total population of 20 teachers, but only 12 of them answered it. The instrument was designed by the teaching staff working on the project to improve the laboratory manuals. The instrument analysis was carried out with the help of an Excel spreadsheet provided by the LimeSurvey software. The instrument was validated by IDESPO staff of the National University regarding the relevance of the content of the statements, the clarity of the questions, and the coherence with the objective of this study. Results. The structure and organization of the General Physics courses have a positive assessment by the teachers, who also showed a preference for the traditional lecturing; but even so, they are willing to train and learn new teaching strategies. Conclusions. The results of this investigation show that teachers are open to technological change and to working on the challenges that government policies have proposed.

Evaluation of the use of the Moodle Platform for Fundamental Physics Lectures at University

Almost all countries in the world use E-Learning as a teaching medium. Moodle is a Learning Management System (LMS), a free, open-source platform designed to assist educators in creating online courses with dynamic interaction opportunities. In this study, an evaluation of the use of Moodle was carried out, especially in fundamental physics courses (Newton's Law). Evaluation is given by distributing online questionnaires using Google Forms as a database to store answers, collect feedback, and as statistical software to provide analysis of the effect of using Moodle according to students' opinions or perspectives. The study results show that students experience problems in taking tests/quizzes using SEB due to the instability of the internet signal. One of the reasons is that students also have to join the exam zoom simultaneously. Meanwhile, the Newton's Law material provided is very contextual and rich in sample questions, including providing student feedback which is considered good.

Remote Laboratory, Based on Raspberry Pi, to Facilitate Scientific Experimentation for Secondary School Students

The pandemic caused by COVID 19 forced education systems to offer their services remotely due to social distancing policies. This article discusses research results on the development of remote laboratory architectures to deliver scientific experimentation in the area of physics for secondary school students using desktop computers or mobile devices.The design of the remote laboratory is based on the Raspberry Pi device, using various sensors and a graphical interface through which access and communication is given.The purpose of the development of this remote laboratory is to provide teachers and students of secondary education access to the development of remote activities for scientific experimentation in physics courses, using low-cost devices and free software.

Value-added model of basic mathematics-physics training in engineering students

The added value in education refers to the contribution that the educational institution effectively makes to student learning, expressed as the growth in knowledge, skills and abilities, in a period of time, as a result of their educational experience. The objective of the research is to determine the added value of the academic work of the Universidad Francisco de Paula Santander in the development of physical- mathematical thinking in engineering students and the estimation of a mathematical model that allows its valuation. In model allows analyzing the trajectory of the group of engineering students who entered in the first semester of 2018 and involves endogenous and exogenous variables associated with the process. The research is framed in the quantitative paradigm, descriptive, multivariate and correlational. We work with two types of data, the secondary data are constituted by the students’ grades in 2018 and 2019, this information may present biases because they are different courses with different teachers, however, it allows to see the evolution of students in calculus, statistics and physics courses. Primary data were obtained from a test applied in 2018 and a similar test applied in 2019, graded using item response theory. Results were compared and differences were evaluated to estimate the contribution effectively made by the university.

Should we teach free-body diagrams before or after Newton’s Laws?

There are two interesting lesson sequences for teaching force and motion in high-school physics. These are teaching free-body diagrams before Newton’s laws (FbN) and teaching Newton’s laws before free-body diagrams (NbF). Both sequences were found in physics textbooks. Different authors adopted the sequence that they believe it would affect student understanding better. However, some physics experts did not agree with this. It is therefore interesting to know if we should teach with the FbN or NbF sequence. This motivates us to study the effect of such lesson sequences on student understanding of force and motion. The sample group was grade-10 students from two physics courses in 2020. One course was taught with the FbN sequence (29 students) and the other with the NbF sequence (34 students). Their understanding was evaluated by using an assessment test which consisted of three parts including (1) Newtonian concept, (2) problem solving, and (3) free-body diagrams. The result shows that for the Newtonian concept part, the average scores are 11% for the FbN and 13% for the NbF sequence. The average scores of the problem-solving part are 13% and 9% and those of the free-body diagram part are 41% and 48% for the FbN and NbF sequences, respectively. The scores of all parts between the two sequences were not significantly different. In addition, student difficulties found in all parts were similar. However, a larger number of students who could provide the equation of motion (F = ma) in the problem-solving part was found in the FbN sequence. We might conclude that teaching free-body diagrams before or after Newton’s laws did not affect student understanding in the topic of force and motion. Detail of student difficulties in both sequences will be further discussed.

Highlighting non-parabolic bands in semiconductors

The parabolic approximation to the dispersion relation is a simplification that has often been adopted for the electronic band structure of most semiconductors near the edges of the fundamental bandgap. A non-parabolic approximation can be justified which will better describe the properties of semiconductors of narrow bandgaps for which a reduction to a quadratic form is not accurate enough, nor always warranted. It also stands for a better approximation in III–V compounds and for more complex thermoelectric materials. Some of the consequences of adopting non-parabolic bands will be highlighted, as well as approximate expressions for statistical properties. It is emphasized that many properties of semiconductors are not difficult to calculate with non-parabolic bands, which may have a wider range of applications in actual materials. These calculations can then be introduced in solid state physics and statistical physics courses through projects and homework problem sets. Specific examples are discussed designed to clarify basic physics concepts in semiconductors.

Students' Perceptions of Mathematical Physics E-Module on Multiple Integral Material

Mathematical physics is often considered a very difficult subject to study, one of the reasons that makes this happen is the lack of learning media that supports students. In addition, most of the existing media are in foreign languages, so in this case we need an Indonesian language learning media, namely the mathematical physics e-module on dual integral material. This study aims to see the level of students' perceptions of the mathematics physics e-module on the dual integral material that has been made. The approach of this study uses a mixed method with an explanatory model. The sampling technique in this research was purposive sampling with 68 research subjects active physics education students who contracted Mathematics Physics courses. The instrument used in this study was a student perception questionnaire with 15 questions and an interview sheet with 10 questions.. The data analysis used in this research is descriptive statistics. The results of physics education students' perceptions of the mathematics physics e-module of multiple internal material were categorized as good with a percentage of 66.17% and in the very good category with a percentage of 33.83%. From the results it can be seen that the mathematical physics e-module on dual integral material can support the learning process and increase student motivation.

ANALYSIS DIMENSIONS OF CREATIVITY IN STEM INTEGRATED PROJECT-BASED LEARNING

This study aims to analyze the dimensions of creativity in integrated project-based learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The research method uses descriptive statistical analysis. This research was conducted on students of the Physics Education Study Program in Banjarmasin. The research subjects consisted of 24 physics teacher prospective students programming Applied Physics courses. Data obtained through tests, questionnaires and interviews. Data were analyzed by calculating the normality test, difference test, and N Gain. The results showed the order of increasing the percentage of N Gain in the creativity dimension from the lowest to the highest, namely the person dimension, the press dimension, the product dimension, and the process dimension. The strength of this research is to train the creativity of prospective teacher students through project creation by integrating STEM fields that combine cognitive, affective, and psychomotor abilities by exploring the problems that exist in their neighborhood. Further research on the dimensions of creativity in other learning models is needed to explore student creativity continuously and sustainably in order to produce quality resources.