Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching and Research in Physics or Engineering Physics I

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Teresa L. Larkin, American University; Jessica Uscinski, American University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

discussion of how our plan provides us with critical and timely information aboutwhat, and how, our physics students are learning will be presented. While assessment is oftennot viewed as a favorite item on the “to do” list of any faculty member or administrator, we havefound enormous value in the continued attention we place on our annual assessment efforts. Wehope that by sharing the evolution of our curricular efforts, others will find useful ideas andstrategies that could be adapted to an existing assessment plan; or, that could be used to helpbuild the foundation for a new one. The overarching goal of this paper is to share successfultechniques that we’ve used to assess student learning. We hope these techniques will be usefulfor others as

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching and Research in Physics or Engineering Physics II

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Steve E. Watkins, Missouri University of Science & Technology

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

experience in follow-oncourses. The course serves the departmental plan to better integrate instruction in electrical andcomputer engineering topics and to facilitate flexible degree content through more accessibleelectives, minor programs, and dual-degree options. In particular, many students are pursuingthe dual-degree option that is promoted in part by this course. Students seem to readily use thecontent for projects, senior design, etc. Future work is planned in providing additional courseresources such as on-line problem examples and design content in the laboratory. The OpAmplectures are being revised for more clarity and for added examples. The course is a prerequisitefor proposed upper-level course work in device physics, sensor

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching and Research in Physics or Engineering Physics II

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Varun Kumar Karingula, Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis; Hazim A El-Mounayri, Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis; Tamer M. Wasfy, Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis; Hatem M Wasfy, Advanced Science and Automation Corp.; Jeanne Michele Peters, Advanced Science and Automation Corp.

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

   For the last lab, the analysis of the pre-test results (Fig. 15), revealed that, on average, 48 % of theanswers to the ten questions were correct. In contrast, the Post test results (Fig. 16) showed that, onaverage, students, answered 78 % of questions correctly.  Students were satisfied with this new way of teaching. In fact, their feedback shows 82 %satisfaction. It should be noted that, a more detailed assessment study of the learning effectivenessof virtual physics lab is planned in spring 2013 semester. If this a l s o shows positive results,then further extensions of the virtual physics lab will be planned in the future.     Conclusion  This paper examined the potential of a game based virtual laboratory environment (both game

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching and Research in Physics or Engineering Physics I

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Polin Yadak, Cañada College; Amelito G Enriquez, Canada College

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

students decided to change theirmajor, however after taking some other classes they decided to switch their major back toengineering and planning to take the next Physics course either in Summer or Fall 2013. Summer Physics Jam (with 2012 Physics Jam credit) Results Number of Participants 4 Number Completed 4 Completion Rate 100% Number of Physics Jam Students 1 Enrolled in Physics in Fall Semester Success Rate in physics classes 100% Table 5. Summary of Physics Jam (with credit) results

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching and Research in Physics or Engineering Physics I

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Thomas Mark Scaife, University of Wisconsin-Platteville; Andrew F Heckler, Ohio State University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

difficulties in learning materials science. Page 23.1169.1 c American Society for Engineering Education, 2013 The case for individualized-instruction: Preconception-Instruction-InteractionIntroductionThere has been much debate about the need for and the effectiveness of planning instruction arounddiffering learning styles (e.g., visual, auditory, kinesthetic). For example, when studied in controlledenvironments, it has been shown repeatedly that instruction aligned with learning styles does appreciablycorrelate with increased understanding 1

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching and Research in Physics or Engineering Physics II

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Angeles Dominguez, Tecnologico de Monterrey (ITESM); Genaro Zavala, Tecnologico de Monterrey; Juan Antonio Alanis

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

problem solvingstrategies. Moreover, we are planning on following the students to observe whether some of thestrategies learned in the Fis-Mat course are still being used and we hope to reunite students foranother interdisciplinary experience in some other of their courses.AcknowledgementsThe authors acknowledge the support received from our Institution through a research chair grantCAT140 and the School of Engineering. We also recognize and express our appreciation to EricBrewe and his Physics Education Research Group for sharing material they have developed assupport for teaching a Physics course using Modeling Instruction.Bibliography1. M. W. Ohland, R. M. Felder, M. I. Hoit, G. Zhang, T. J. Anderson, “Integrated Curricula in the SUCCEED

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching and Research in Physics or Engineering Physics I

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Harold T. Evensen, University of Wisconsin, Platteville; W. Doyle St.John, University of Wisconsin, Platteville

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

moreprecise measurement of power dissipation.We did not fully implement the concept of traceability, since the rapid implementation meantthat we did not have time to purchase reference standards other than a calibrated, NIST-traceablevoltmeter (none of the original lab equipment had been calibrated since its initial purchase).Plans for the next offering of the course will be discussed below.For similar reasons, we did not do much with a key third metrology term, calibration. The VIMdefines calibration as operation that, under specified conditions, in a first step, establishes a relation between the quantity values with measurement uncertainties provided by measurement standards and corresponding indications with associated

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching and Research in Physics or Engineering Physics I

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Baha Jassemnejad, University of Central Oklahoma; Scott Tracewell StJohn; Evan C. Lemley, University of Central Oklahoma; Kevin Rada, University of Central Oklahoma, Department of Engineering and Physics; Juan Camilo Orozco

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

to gather initial data to provide a baseline of comparison with studentsat the beginning of the semester in addition to the current end-of-semester survey. This will giveus the ability to gauge how the course has shaped student perceptions and confidence levels moreaccurately. We also intend to implement a peer evaluation process to reinforce groupparticipation and open communication, and are going to move up some of the deadlines for theearly phases of the group projects, as well as adding a day early in the semester for the groups toform and begin planning for their projects.The course program outlined in this paper takes an engineering student through a variety ofdifferent exercises and projects to inform, encourage, and involve the