Making Sense of What Happens in Physics Classes: Analyzing Student Learning
What are we learning?
Faculty E. F. (Joe) Redish David Hammer† John Layman† (emer.) († joint with Education)
Building a community consensus map of physics education
The process of an applied science
What do we see?
Example: Electric and magnetic forces
Magnetic poles problem: (UW PEG)
Results
How do we make sense of what we see?
Five general principles of learning from cognitive psychology and education
The structure of student knowledge
Inside Students' Heads: What influences their learning?
Concepts
Newton's Third Law is a difficult concept
N3 can be taught successfully
Newton 3 Lesson
PPT Slide
Expectations
Items of the MPEX Reality Cluster:
MPEX Reality Cluster: Large Universities
Attitudes
Contexts producing self-stereotyping can lower performance
What are we going to do about it?
Mechanical waves and sound
Example: Wavepulse math
Interview response of an “A” student
Interview on how a dust particle responds to a sound wave:
Great speakers!
A guiding analogy
Student difficulties are not much affected by traditional instruction
Curriculum to Address Difficulties with Sound
Pre- and Post-Instruction Wave Diagnostic Test
Pre-Instruction Responses
Post-Instruction Responses
Conclusion
Email: redish@physics.umd.edu
Home Page: www2.physics.umd.edu/~redish/redish.htm
Other information: APS Centennial Lecture, presented at APS/AAPT joint meeting, Atlanta GA, 24 March 1999.