Conference Session

Programmatic Issues in Physics or Engineering Physics

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Robert Ross, University of Detroit, Mercy; Eswara Venugopal, University of Detroit, Mercy; Daniel Maggio, University of Detroit, Mercy; Meghann Mouyianis, University of Detroit, Mercy

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

replaced a traditional introductory collegemechanics laboratory curriculum, which was not inquiry-based and provided only limitedopportunities for students to construct their own knowledge by performing open-ended activities.Research into physics education provides insight for the design of innovative curricula andpedagogy. 3 The learning environments that are able to demonstrate the highest rates of studentachievement, as measured by standardized examinations, involve some form of what iscommonly called interactive engagement. Hake defines, ‘‘Interactive Engagement’’ (IE)methods as those designed at least in part to promote conceptual understanding throughinteractive engagement of students in heads-on (always) and hands-on (usually) activities

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching Physics or Engineering Physics

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jennifer Franck, California Institute of Technology; Ted Yu, California Institute of Technology; Juan Pedro Ochoa-Ricoux, California Institute of Technology; James Maloney, California Institute of Technology; Angela Capece, California Institute of Technology; Luz Rivas, California Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

of Technology, where he studies the phenomenon of neutrino oscillations in the MINOS Experiment at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. He was a YESS physics instructor for 2007-2008, and is the curriculum coordinator for the 2009 program.James Maloney, California Institute of Technology James Maloney is Director of the Caltech Classroom Connection, a science and engineering outreach program at the California Institute of Technology that targets the local K-12 public school system. He received his M.S. in physics from Caltech for his work in the field of nano-scale mechanical resonators, and a B.S. in physics from the University of Florida. James was a YESS physics instructor in 2007 and

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching Physics or Engineering Physics

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Warren Turner, Westfield State College; Glenn Ellis, Smith College

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

, reinforces thegraphical connections between the various representations of the motion and connects to a largerproblem-solving framework.1 Brasell, H. “The Effect of Real-time Laboratory Graphing on Learning Graphic Representations of Distance andVelocity,” Journal of Research in Science Teaching 24, (1987).2 van Zee, E.H., Cole, A., Hogan, K., Oropeza, D. and Roberts, D. “Using Probeware and the Internet to EnhanceLearning,” Maryland Association of Science Teachers Rapper 25, (2000).3 Beichner, R. J., “The Effect of Simultaneous Motion Presentation and Graph Generation in a Kinematics Lab,”Journal of Research in Science Teaching 27, 803-815 (1990).4 Mokros, J. R. and Tinker, R. F. “The Impact of Microcomputer-Based Labs on Children’s Ability to

Conference Session

Programmatic Issues in Physics or Engineering Physics

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Anca Sala, Baker College; Raghu Echempati, Kettering University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

utilized include Homework, Quizzes, Laboratory Reports, Midterm Exam, and Final Exam. While all tools are used to assess achievement of SLO’s, for brevity we discuss in the following only the results from Final Exams from the 2006-07 and 2007-08 academic years, and Midterm Exams from the 2007-08 academic year. Tables 7 and 8 show the individual student results from academic year 2007-08 for General Physics I, and General Physics II respectively. Table 7. General Physics I Individual Student Results.2007-08 Midterm Exam Final ExamStudent ID SLO2

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching Physics or Engineering Physics

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Radian Belu, Drexel University; Alexandru Belu, Case Western Reserve University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

modules of various physics topics developedand/or underway to be developed by the authors are presented and discussed. We believe it isworthwhile to develop new ways of teaching and learning physics, by taking advantage of theunprecedented developments of the last two decades in computer hardware, software, programminglanguages and Internet. The materials presented herein can be used as the starting point for otherinstructors considering using similar tools in undergraduate level physics courses. The authors alsostrongly believe that discussions and feedback from other educators will advance physics educationthrough introduction of new topics, laboratory experiments or new emerging computer applications indelivering lecture or in doing