Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching Physics or Engineering Physics I

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Patricia F. Mead, Norfolk State University; Ruth A. Streveler, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Lauren D. Thomas, Virginia Tech; Candace A. Cobb, Norfolk State University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

discussion of challenges is presented, the research team notes a few things that opticalengineering students agreed were helpful about their previous coursework. Optical engineeringis a hybrid between electrical engineering and applied physics. The NSU optical engineeringstudents complete a two-semester sequence in optics and a semester of materials science beforethey reach the lasers course. Based on these courses, there are a few terms that were notconsidered new or confusing by the students surveyed for this paper. These include reflectioncoefficient, reflectance and reflectivity, crystalline structure, conduction and valence bands,photon, and optical transformation matrix.Two general types of language challenges are discussed. The first is the

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching Physics or Engineering Physics I

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Daniel Ludwigsen, Kettering University; Janet Brelin-Fornari, Kettering University; Joseph Neal, Kettering University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

realize a deeper link from lab activities and reallife, especially in their work in engineering. This connection to the real world helps drive a deepunderstanding of physical laws for practical-minded students.The foundation of Crash into Physics relies on the computer based measurement interface toconnect mechanical lab tools with immediate computer display of results. This is the origin ofthe RealTime Physics approach, and enables the learning cycle; prediction, observation,comparison, analysis, and quantitative experimentation. The emphasis is moved from tasks likerecording and plotting, to reflection on the results and their interpretation. This permits timemultiple runs, trials, and exploration before pursuing more rigorous quantitative

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching Physics or Engineering Physics II

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Teresa L. Larkin, American University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

. While females haveslightly higher mean grades and higher mean GPAs in the course, they have significantly lowerFCI gains than their male constituents. If course grade can be taken to reflect how much astudent has learned, and GPA as a measure of academic success, then it would be reasonable tothink that the female students would have slightly higher FCI gains than their male counterparts.The results presented here reflect the opposite and give rise to a discussion in terms of testingand the potential connection to gender issues. Research on standardized tests (i.e. SAT, GRE, LSAT, etc…) and their relationship togender have been widely reported in the literature [45 – 46]. In 1992, the American Associationof University Women Educational

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching Physics or Engineering Physics I

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kristi J. Shryock, Texas A&M University; Arun R. Srinivasa, Texas A&M University, Department of Mechanical Engineering; Jefferey E. Froyd, Texas A&M University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

research field studies conceptual understanding oflearners, including what is conceptual understanding, how conceptual understanding can beassessed, what are common alternative explanations that learners offer for physical phenomena,and how learners can be influenced so that their explanations reflect common scientificunderstanding3. Duit maintains an active bibliography for this field that contains over 8000references4.Force Concept InventoryA pivotal event in the field of conceptual understanding occurred when Halloun and Hestenessynthesized research on understanding (and misunderstanding) of concepts of force and motionto create the Force Concept Inventory (FCI)5. Consisting of 29 multiple-choice questions, theFCI assessed a student’s

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching Physics or Engineering Physics II

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jeffrey A. Jalkio, University of Saint Thomas

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

terminology and uncertainty. These two documents are theInternational Vocabulary of Basic and General Terms in Metrology (abbreviated VIM andoriginally published in 1984) and Evaluation of Measurement Data – Guide to the Expression ofUncertainty in Measurement (abbreviated GUM and originally published in 1993). In 1997, theBIPM, IEC, IFCC, ILAC, ISO, IUPAC, IUPAP, and OIML formed the Joint Committee forGuides in Metrology (JCGM) to update and maintain these documents as well as to create furtherdocuments aiding the further standardization of metrology3.The VIM provides standardized definitions for terms such as error, precision, accuracy,repeatability and reproducibility. These definitions reflect the shift that has occurred over thelast 40 years

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching Physics or Engineering Physics II

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Baha Jassemnejad, University of Central Oklahoma; Wei Siang Pee, University of Central Oklahoma; Kevin Rada; Montell Jermaine Wright, University of Central Oklahoma, Robotics Research; Kaitlin Rose Foran, University of Central Oklahoma; Evan C. Lemley, University of Central Oklahoma

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

later grades.through experiment, and communicative learning,which involves two or more individuals working to [2] Carpenter, R. (1963). A Reading M ethod andreach a consensus of understanding through discourse an Activity M ethod in Elementar y Sciencethat examines the evidence, arguments, and considers I nstr uction.Science Education, April.all points of view. More generally, involvement in A Summary Study of NSF Sponsoredthese types of learning modalities helps students to Elementary Science Programs, the study ofbecome more proficient at critical reflection on the fourth grade students found that an activityassumptions made in consideration of any