Dissertations / Theses: 'Physics Education'

1

Okere, Mark Ignatius Owondo. "Creativity in physics education." Thesis, King's College London (University of London), 1986. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.283420.

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Pfeiffer, Benoite Jeanne Françoise. "Soft physics: healing the mind/body split in physics education." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/43278.

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Physics education is facing a crisis of meaning: students can “plug” numbers into formulas, but research shows they do not give much meaning to physical concepts. This thesis explores how the cultural context of physics education, in particular the mind/body cartesian split, contributes to a loss of meaning. Drawing from sensory scholarship, cognitive linguistics, feminist critiques of science, her own teaching experience and education research on student misconceptions and intuitive knowledge, the author challenges the mind/body dichotomy by exploring how the body can make sense of the physical world through the senses. Physical concepts can be more-than-representational, exist beyond mathematical symbols and signifiers, but nevertheless be perceived through touch. In her quest for a mind/body truce, the author has created provocative stories for the physics classroom that welcome the body and its physic-al knowledge, and that reconcile intuition and Newtonian physics. This subtle change of perspective leads her to replace the alleged mind/body war with a respectful quest for compromise and fine tuning, and to analyze the dominant patriarchal narratives of the physics community. The author advocates for an intuition-based, sensory, student-centred pedagogy that redefines traditional power relationships in the physics classroom and challenges indoctrinating scientific discourses, hoping it will contribute to improving the inclusiveness of the physics community. Such a paradigm shift requires a re-storying of collective narratives. Physics is not about dominating nature but about learning from nature; it is time to abandon the myth of the detached observer and study nature from inside, at the confluence of everything that make us humans.

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Nissen, Jayson Micheal. "Self-efficacy state experiences in introductory physics| With implications for gender in physics." Thesis, The University of Maine, 2016. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10294760.

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Few undergraduates choose physics as a major, and among those who do very few are women. One potential contributor to this problem is the impact that physics instruction seems to have on students' self-efficacy, which is student's thoughts and feelings about their capabilities to succeed as learners in physics. Self-efficacy plays an important role in student achievement in academics both in general and for students pursuing STEM degrees. Conversely, research has shown that the self-efficacy of both men and women tends to be reduced after taking traditional and research-based physics courses. Moreover, self-efficacy tends to be reduced further for women than for men. Whether the negative shifts in self-efficacy in physics are caused by physics instruction remains unclear. It may be that the negative shift in self-efficacy reflects a broader trend in university education that has little to do with physics per se. I investigated this and other alternative explanations for negative shifts in self-efficacy in physics courses using an in-the-moment measurement technique called the Experience Sampling Method. The technique allowed me to collect students' day-to-day feelings of self-efficacy, which I called states, and to compare students' self-efficacy states in physics to those in other STEM courses. I found that students experienced much lower self-efficacy states in physics than in their other STEM courses. Moreover, this difference largely affected women who experienced physics, and only physics, with much lower self-efficacy states than men. Given that experiences are an established sources of self-efficacy beliefs and women also had much more negative shifts in their self-efficacy beliefs I concluded that the experience of physics instruction was probably a causal factor in women's reduced self-efficacy. Further analysis found that the gender difference in self-efficacy states was more than twice that predicted by students' pre-course achievement, attitudes and beliefs. Thus I tentatively concluded that the negative impact on women's self-efficacy resulted from inequities in the physics-learning environment rather than preexisting gender differences. I present evidence that the physics course I investigated was similar to other research-based physics courses and tentatively I concluded that physics instruction in general is detrimental to women's self-efficacy.

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Bocaneala, Florin. "Individual and group learning in physics education." Connect to this title online, 2005. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=osu1117151049.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2005.
Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xiii, 127 p.; also includes graphics Includes bibliographical references (p. 118-127). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center

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Shan, Kathy. "Improving Student Learning and Views of Physics in a Large Enrollment Introductory Physics Class." University of Toledo / OhioLINK, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1384117221.

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Blickenstaff, Jacob Arin. "A framework for effective physics education applied to secondary and university physics courses /." For electronic version search Digital dissertations database. Restricted to UC campuses. Access is free to UC campus dissertations, 2004. http://uclibs.org/PID/11984.

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Kapucu, Serkan. "Physics Teachers." Phd thesis, METU, 2012. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12614422/index.pdf.

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The purpose of this study was to investigate four in-service physics teachers&rsquo
beliefs related to Turkish High School Physics Curriculum (THSPC) and to what extent these beliefs are reflected in their instructional practices. Data were collected through interviews, classroom observations and an open-ended questionnaire. Teachers&rsquo
responses to interview questions showed that they believed that teaching physics according to the THSPC helped students use their skills, become interested in physics lessons, relate physics to their daily life and have a permanent knowledge. Besides, teachers believe that they can teach physics according to the THSPC generally by giving examples from daily life and creating a discussion environment. The data obtained from classroom observations showed that the beliefs of teachers about how to teach physics according to the THSPC were reflected in their instructional practices. Teachers&rsquo
responses to open-ended questionnaire showed that teachers believed the necessity of attainment of majority of the skill objectives in the THSPC by students. However, they do not consider that students can attain many of the problem solving and information and communication skills. The data obtained from classroom observations showed that they seldom attempted to help students attain them or they never attempted. The data gathered from interviews and an open questionnaire showed that there were some factors that influence teachers&rsquo
instructional practices according to the THSPC. For example, they believe that students&rsquo
interest in physics lessons and teacher&rsquo
s opportunity to give more examples about daily life made their teaching physics according to the THSPC easy. However, they believe that university entrance exam, inadequacy of laboratory environment and lesson hours, students&rsquo
low economic status and lack of information and communication technologies affected their teaching physics according to the THSPC negatively.

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Amos, Nathaniel. "Connecting Symbolic Integrals to Physical Meaning in Introductory Physics." The Ohio State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1492617581975923.

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Bouma, Craig E. "Physics First| Impact on SAT Math Scores." Thesis, Loyola Marymount University, 2014. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3610316.

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Improving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education has become a national priority and the call to modernize secondary science has been heard. A Physics First (PF) program with the curriculum sequence of physics, chemistry, and biology (PCB) driven by inquiry- and project-based learning offers a viable alternative to the traditional curricular sequence (BCP) and methods of teaching, but requires more empirical evidence. This study determined impact of a PF program (PF-PCB) on math achievement (SAT math scores) after the first two cohorts of students completed the PF-PCB program at Matteo Ricci High School (MRHS) and provided more quantitative data to inform the PF debate and advance secondary science education. Statistical analysis (ANCOVA) determined the influence of covariates and revealed that PF-PCB program had a significant (p < .05) impact on SAT math scores in the second cohort at MRHS. Statistically adjusted, the SAT math means for PF students were 21.4 points higher than their non-PF counterparts when controlling for prior math achievement (HSTP math), socioeconomic status (SES), and ethnicity/race.

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Springuel, R. Padraic. "Applying Cluster Analysis to Physics Education Research Data." Fogler Library, University of Maine, 2010. http://www.library.umaine.edu/theses/pdf/SpringuelRP2010.pdf.

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Ali, Hamed Saffia. "The physics laboratory in higher education in Libya." Thesis, University of Dundee, 2013. https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/71ae3655-4002-4622-9811-7ab31a594da0.

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Laboratory work is considered to be a vital part of the entire learning experience in physics and work in the laboratory has the potential to help make physics more real and tangible for the students while they can develop experimental design skills as well as developing observational and problem-solving skills. Sometimes, difficult concepts can be illustrated while laboratory work also offers opportunities for learners to develop skills in thinking, questioning, planning, and interpreting data as well as an opportunity to develop group working skills. Above all, physics, like all other sciences, gains its insights by means of experimentation and learners need experience of this. In addition, laboratory work has an important role in understanding a subject like physics in that it can make physics more real for the students. More importantly, there is great scope for developing laboratory learning which will enhance understanding as well as give the students an experience of how experimental evidence is used to develop the insights in physics. The question here is: does laboratory courses in higher education actually achieve these goals in a developing country such as Libya where the laboratories are not highly equipped while the staff and the teachers are not trained adequately? Studies have shown that, in laboratory learning, students follow instruction sheets like recipes with little understanding what they are doing, tending to generate negative attitudes. Some key studies have shown clearly that cognitive overload is the source of the problem: the learner’s has to cope with too many ideas at the same time. This study explored this idea and considered how the cognitive load can be reduced, enabling cognitive capacity to be available for greater understanding.The entire work was carried out on three stages with the students in the Faculty of Science at Sebha University, a typical university in Libya. The first experimental study (N = 150) aimed to gain an overall picture of the problems in Libya, look at how learners saw their school and their university experiences in laboratory work in physics. Questionnaires were designed to establish a picture of what was going on and where the problems lay. The survey showed the learners’ need for the security of instruction sheets but they were following these like recipes and not understanding what they were doing. In the light of these findings, pre-laboratory exercises were designed and post-laboratory exercises were constructed, for each experiment. The pre-laboratory exercise involved a set of simple tasks for the students to complete allowing them to revise underpinning ideas, grasp the key point of the experiment and how it was to be done. The overall aim was to reduce the pressure on limited working memory capacity as they undertook the experiment. The post-laboratory exercises were also short and were designed to allow the students to apply the ideas they had learned. The post-laboratory exercises were marked and the scores were used as a measure of understanding. When used with a sample of students (N = 95), the changes brought about by the use of pre-laboratory exercises were explored by considering their performance in the post-laboratory exercises while student perceptions of the experience were considered using a questionnaire. It was found that the pre-laboratory exercises improved understanding quite markedly with the students at Sebha University and their attitudes towards the whole pre-laboratory experience was very positive. In the third and final stage, pre-laboratory and post-laboratory were also employed with a sample of students (N = 106)but the post-lab exercises were extended considerably. The laboratory instructions sheets were re-written completely to make the whole learning experience a more cohesive whole. The outcomes were considered using performance in the post-laboratory exercises while student opinions were surveyed again. In both stages two and three, performance in the post-lab exercises offered insight into how well the students understood what they had done. In addition, at the end of stage three, semi-structured interviews were carried out with university teachers to explore the views of university teachers relating to physics laboratories in Libya. The findings of the third stage and second stage were compared to see what is new in students’ perceptions (N = 106). The question being explored here was whether the key to the greater success lay in the pre-laboratory exercises on their own or whether the re-written instruction sheets made further major improvements. It was found that there were only very small further improvements, thus confirming that the pre-learning from the pre-laboratory exercises was the key. The overall conclusions, this study has demonstrated the power and effectiveness of simple pre-laboratory exercises in a typical Libyan university physics course in enhancing understanding in physics. In almost all the survey items, the responses of the students who worked with pre-lab (with pre-laboratory group) were significantly more positive than the responses from the students who worked without pre-lab (without pre-laboratory group). Comparing the second stage and the third stage revealed little change, suggesting that the key to the performance improvement as well as the changes in student perceptions was largely due to the pre-laboratory exercises. Implications of the findings are discussed, especially in the context of education in Libya.

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12

Wang, Jing. "Advanced Quantitative Measurement Methodology in Physics Education Research." The Ohio State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1249366709.

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13

Yeung, Tsz-Kit. "Web-based and multimedia approach to physics education /." View Abstract or Full-Text, 2002. http://library.ust.hk/cgi/db/thesis.pl?PHYS%202002%20YEUNGT.

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Thesis (M. Phil.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2002.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-69). Also available in electronic version. Access restricted to campus users.

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14

Meyer, Joseph. "Early Stages of Game Development Company for Physics Education." Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies / OhioLINK, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1496423532596752.

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15

Badeau, Ryan C. "Talking Physics: Two Case Studies on Short Answers and Self-explanation in Learning Physics." The Ohio State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1498068128855585.

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16

Bouma, Craig Earl. "Physics First: Impact on SAT Math Scores." Digital Commons at Loyola Marymount University and Loyola Law School, 2013. https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/etd/213.

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Improving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education has become a national priority and the call to modernize secondary science has been heard. A Physics First (PF) program with the curriculum sequence of physics, chemistry, and biology (PCB) driven by inquiry- and project-based learning offers a viable alternative to the traditional curricular sequence (BCP) and methods of teaching, but requires more empirical evidence. This study determined impact of a PF program (PF-PCB) on math achievement (SAT math scores) after the first two cohorts of students completed the PF-PCB program at Matteo Ricci High School (MRHS) and provided more quantitative data to inform the PF debate and advance secondary science education. Statistical analysis (ANCOVA) determined the influence of covariates and revealed that PF-PCB program had a significant (p < .05) impact on SAT math scores in the second cohort at MRHS. Statistically adjusted, the SAT math means for PF students were 21.4 points higher than their non-PF counterparts when controlling for prior math achievement (HSTP math), socioeconomic status (SES), and ethnicity/race.

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17

Graves, Heather Brodie. "The rhetoric of physics : an ethnography of the research and writing processes in a physics laboratory /." The Ohio State University, 1992. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1487779914826881.

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18

Danielsson, Anna T. "Doing Physics - Doing Gender : An Exploration of Physics Students' Identity Constitution in the Context of Laboratory Work." Doctoral thesis, Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för fysik och materialvetenskap, 2009. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-98907.

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In Sweden today women are greatly under-represented within university physics and the discipline of physics is also symbolically associated with men and masculinity. This motivates in-depth investigations of issues of physics, learning and gender. This thesis explores how physics students' simultaneously constitute the practice of physics as enacted in student and research laboratories and their physicist identities in relation to this practice. In particular, it focuses on how these constitutions can be understood as gendered. Previously, physics education research has often limited 'gender perspective' to focusing on comparisons between man and woman students, whereas this study conceptualises gender as an aspect of social identity constitution. A point of departure for the thesis is the theoretical framework which combines situated learning theory and post-structural gender theory. This framework allows for a simultaneous analysis of how students 'do physics' and 'do gender', thereby making a theoretical contribution to physics education research. In the empirical study twenty-two undergraduate and graduate physics students were interviewed about their physics studies, with a particular focus on laboratory work. The analytical outcomes of the study illustrate a wide variety of possible identity constitutions and possible ways of constituting the physicist community of practice. For example, the students expressed conflicting interpretations of what are suitable practices in the student laboratory in terms of the value of practical versus analytical skills. The boundaries of the physicist community of practice are constituted in relation to, for example, other disciplines, interdisciplinary practices and a traditional femininity practice. Thus, the thesis demonstrates the complexity in physics students gendered negotiations of what it can mean to be a physicist. The ambition of the thesis is further to promote discussions about gender and physics, by engaging readers in critical reflections about the practice of physics, and, thus, to inform the teaching practice of physics.

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Conner, Angelo C. "An historical approach to physics instruction." Honors in the Major Thesis, University of Central Florida, 2008. http://digital.library.ucf.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ETH/id/1070.

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This item is only available in print in the UCF Libraries. If this is your Honors Thesis, you can help us make it available online for use by researchers around the world by following the instructions on the distribution consent form at http://library.ucf.edu/Systems/DigitalInitiatives/DigitalCollections/InternetDistributionConsentAgreementForm.pdf You may also contact the project coordinator, Kerri Bottorff, at kerri.bottorff@ucf.edu for more information.
Bachelors
Education
Education

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20

Alzahrani, Raym. "Correlations Between Introductory Students’ Attitudes About Physics and Conceptual Understanding." Wright State University / OhioLINK, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1484680800563644.

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21

Lin, Yuhfen. "From Students to Researchers: The Education of Physics Graduate Students." Columbus, Ohio : Ohio State University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=osu1213372064.

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Hicks, Adam S. "A.C.C.E.S.S. - Alternative Conceptions: a Comprehensive Examination of Space Science." Miami University / OhioLINK, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1250084491.

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23

Hall, Nicholas Ron. "Autonomy and the Student Experience in Introductory Physics." Thesis, University of California, Davis, 2014. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3602079.

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The role of autonomy in the student experience in a large-enrollment undergraduate introductory physics course was studied from a Self-Determination Theory perspective with two studies. Study I, a correlational study, investigated whether certain aspects of the student experience correlated with how autonomy supportive (vs. controlling) students perceived their instructors to be. An autonomy supportive instructor acknowledges students' perspectives, feelings, and perceptions and provides students with information and opportunities for choice, while minimizing external pressures. It was found that the degree to which students perceived their instructors as autonomy supportive was positively correlated with student interest and enjoyment in learning physics (beta=0.31***) and negatively correlated with student anxiety about taking physics (beta=-0.23**). It was also positively correlated with how autonomous (vs. controlled) students' reasons for studying physics became over the duration of the course (i.e., studying physics more because they wanted to vs. had to; beta=0.24***). This change in autonomous reasons for studying physics was in turn positively correlated with student performance in the course (beta=0.17*). Additionally, the degree to which students perceived their instructors as autonomy supportive was directly correlated with performance for those students entering the course with relatively autonomous reasons for studying physics (beta=0.25**). In summary, students who perceived their instructors as more autonomy supportive tended to have a more favorable experience in the course. If greater autonomy support was in fact the cause of a more favorable student experience, as suggested by Self-determination Theory and experimental studies in other contexts, these results would have implications for instruction and instructor professional development in similar contexts. I discuss these implications. Study II, an experimental study, investigated the effect, on the student experience, of the number of opportunities for choice built into the course format. This was done by comparing two sets of classes. In one set of classes, students spent each class period working through a required series of activities. In the other set of classes, with additional choice, students were free to choose what to work on during nearly half of each class. It was found that the effect of additional choice on student interest and enjoyment in learning physics was significantly different for men vs. women, with a Cohen's d of 0.62 (0.16-1.08; 95% CI). Men became somewhat more interested with additional choice and women became less interested. This gender difference in interest and enjoyment as a result of additional choice could not be accounted for by differences in performance. It was also found that only in classes with additional choice did performance in the course correlate with the degree to which students reasons for studying physics became more autonomous during the quarter (beta=0.30*). I discuss the implications that these effects of additional choice have for instruction and course design in similar contexts.

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24

Lawrence, Paula Tracki. "Developing a Laboratory Curriculum for Physics I." UNF Digital Commons, 1986. http://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd/58.

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This curriculum project reviews the current research on laboratory activity formats and their effectiveness. The literature concerning laboratory safety and teacher liability is also reviewed. The revision of Florida state high school science requirements is presented and the curriculum developed corresponds to these revisions. The project includes laboratory activities that correspond to the course student performance standards as designated by the state of Florida for the Physics I course and strives to aid teachers in fulfilling the 72 hour laboratory time requirement to meet eligibility requirements for additional state funding. The criteria for selecting activities and materials are also included in this project. A sample evaluation form is included, as well as a summary of these teacher evaluations of the developed curriculum.

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Chetcuti, Deborah Anne. "The Physics Secondary Education Certificate examination : a Maltese case study." Thesis, Nottingham Trent University, 1999. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.266926.

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Black, Benjamin. "Physics, construction, experience : an architecture environment for informal science education." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/64532.

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Thesis (M. Arch.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1996.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 105-107).
While contemporary informal science education facilities (to include science centers, natural history museums, aquariums and zoos) have dramatically evolved from the 17th century room of curiosity cabinets to the modern-day container of interactive exhibits, very little has been done to incorporate architectural experience into a pedagogical mission. This thesis investigates how architectural experiences can be constructed as integral components of an informal science learning environment. While the building serves as a container of the facility, it also serves as a device to consciously establish territories of direct interaction with the behavior of natural phenomena. Grounded primarily on scientific concepts related physics, the mission of this particular science center relies substantially on the experimentation, participation, and critical inquiry of citizens to construct their own knowledge. It is located in Seattle on a prominent urban site associated with existing and developing cultural infrastructure.
by Benjamin Black.
M.Arch.

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deGuzman, Jeremy Ernest. "Design of an air track for engineering and physics education." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92176.

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Thesis: S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2014.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 47-48).
An air track is a valuable tool for examining force and motion in the classroom, providing a low-friction environment to observe phenomena. Unfortunately, currently available models have limited functionality and are prohibitively expensive for many schools. To improve access to this helpful device, a number of smaller and less expensive variations on traditional air tracks are designed and tested. From an analysis of test results and theoretical performance calculations, the best design is identified. Further improvements to this design are also suggested.
by Jeremy Ernest deGuzman.
S.B.

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28

Southey, Philip. ""Concept" and "Context": Toward modelling understanding in Physics Education research." Doctoral thesis, University of Cape Town, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/27857.

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"Context sensitivity" is a core issue in physics education research (PER). Why does student understanding of a concept depend so crucially on the context in which it is embedded? This dissertation attempts to answer this question by using a variety of theoretical tools to model understanding. We conducted three empirical studies which probed context sensitivity of student understanding of (i) Vector Addition; (ii) The FCI (Force Concept Inventory); and (iii) the learning of the concept of a Mathematical Group. (i) Regarding vector addition, we discovered context sensitivities involving the type of physical quantity added (e.g. force or momentum); the textual prompts "total", "net" and "resultant"; and the object on which a force acts. (ii) In the FCI, we discovered a moderate context sensitivity to unfamiliar words (i.e. when familiar words like "box" were substituted for unfamiliar words like "kist".) This sensitivity was moderately correlated with the difficulty of the question. (iii) Previous studies have shown that learners exhibit a sensitivity to the concreteness of the learning condition of a Mathematical Group; our study shows that students are engaged in different types of activity in these conditions. A variety of theoretical tools from PER, Cognitive Linguistics, Cognitive Psychology and other areas of Education Research are used to model student understanding in these various studies. Three key insights emerged. (a) The importance of one's model of "concept" - how it relates to the notion of "context", and how one chooses an appropriate grain size. (b) The difference between "expert" and "novice" - how this difference influences one's model of "concept", and how it influences one's notion of "sameness" and "difference". (c) Student reasoning - how a framing of a situation might result in fast, associative, linguistic reasoning on the one hand, or slow, deliberate simulative reasoning on the other. Finally, this thesis is grounded in Wittgensteinian ordinary language philosophy which maintains that notions of "concept", "context" and "understanding" obtain meaning not be referring to some transcendental "thing", but by being embedded in our messy form of life. In other words, by modelling understanding we are not approaching the "true meaning" of the term. Instead we are demonstrating how our various models are constitutive of what we mean when we say: "My students understand this concept".

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Forsman, Jonas. "Complexity Theory and Physics Education Research : The Case of Student Retention in Physics and Related Degree Programmes." Doctoral thesis, Uppsala universitet, Fysikundervisningens didaktik, 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-259413.

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This thesis explores the use of complexity theory in Physics Education Research as a way to examine the issue of student retention (a university’s ability to retain its students). University physics education is viewed through the concepts of nestedness and networked interactions. The work presented in this thesis covers two main aspects from a complexity theory perspective: (1) institutional action to enhance student retention; and, (2) the role of students’ in-course interaction networks. These aspects are used to reframe student retention from a complexity theory perspective, as well as to explore what implications this new perspective affords. The first aspect is addressed by conceptualizing student retention as an emergent phenomenon caused by both agent and component interaction within a complex system. A methodology is developed to illustrate a networked visualization of such a system using contemporary estimation methods. Identified limitations are discussed. To exemplify the use of simulations of complex systems, the networked system created is used to build a simulation of an “ideal” university system as well as a Virtual world for hypothesis-testing. The second aspect is divided into two sections: Firstly, an analysis of processes relating to how students’ in-course networks are created is undertaken. These networks are divided into two relevant components for student retention – the social and the academic. Analysis of these two components of the networks shows that the formation of the networks is not a result of random processes and is thus framed as a function of the core constructs of student retention research – the social and academic systems. Secondly, a case is made that students’ structural positions in the social and academic networks can be related to their grade achievement in the course.

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30

Harper, Kathleen Andre. "Investigating the Development of Problem Solving Skills During a Freshman Physics Sequence." The Ohio State University, 2001. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1380547607.

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31

Majiet, Nuraan. "Measurement and uncertainty in the first-year physics laboratory: towards probing students' conceptual understanding of the mean." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/32529.

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Physics is about sense-making. The world we live in and experience through our sensory modalities is highly complex. In order to make sense of this complexity we reduce the experiences to a more simplified form. The way in which this is achieved is through modelling. Physics consists of both theory and experiment, thus modelling in physics consists of two components: (1) conceptualization and mathematization (theory) which involves ontological innovation and introducing variables and (2) designing experiments which leads to measurements (experiment). We can then compare our theoretical predictions with our measurements. The present work is primarily focused on aspect (2) dealing with the modelling of experiment. First year physics courses include a teaching component directed at the key aspects that relate to experimentation. This includes the key concepts with regard to measurement and uncertainty. However, these have proved to be challenging aspects of a first-year curriculum and students often resort to rote methods. Student understanding of measurement and uncertainty was explored in detail in a series of studies that were carried by a collaboration between UCT and the University of York. This work showed that students exhibited a wide variety of ideas with regard to all aspects regarding data, ranging from data collection to data processing. Based on their theoretical constructs that explained this variation in terms of point and set paradigms, they concluded that the purpose of teaching was to move students from the point to the set paradigm. Despite the fact that they created an instrument (Physics Measurement Questionnaire (PMQ)) to measure such a shift, it is not clear that the measured shift reflects actual conceptual change. This is particularly so insofar as combining multiple readings into a single number such as the mean is concerned. While many of the questions on the PMQ do attempt to probe student thinking, the question regarding the mean is in fact purely calculational. Therefore, the nature of the responses does not allow one to fully determine to what extent the calculation follows from an appropriate model or whether it is simply an arithmetic step that is carried out without any model in mind. While calculating the mean might be regarded as a step forward for students who were previously classified as point thinkers it can be argued that this is in fact a retrograde step from a modelling perspective in that the step can be described as "model abandonment". Thus, rather than the mean being a stepping stone to further understanding of uncertainty, it could in fact prevent such a learning trajectory. As seen from the PMQ it is not easy to pose questions that probe what model, if any, students have in mind when calculating the mean. The present work thus aimed to explore the degree to which it was possible to identify to what extent students used the mean with some model in mind. The starting point for the work was the PMQ. Questions were posed in the same manner but with the aim of eliciting the reasons why students perceive the mean to be the appropriate way to proceed during data analysis. To what extent is it possible to probe students' modelling approaches in the first-year laboratory? Is it possible to design a non- interview methodology in order to identify their reasons for using the mean? To investigate this a number of questions were constructed and administered to two small groups of students, 20 and 30 respectively, as part of a two step iterative developmental research process. The questions were administered to first-year physics students at the University of Cape Town. The final questionnaire consisted of four questions. The two data collection probes were taken directly from the PMQ and placed at the beginning of the questionnaire for control purposes and the two pilot questions were adapted from the Using Repeated Distance (UR) Probe in the PMQ. UR was reformulated into two questions with an explanation component; one question investigated what students use as the final result in a purported experiment and the other looked at what they predicted as the next value. The analysis comprised careful investigation as to the "Level of Informativeness" provided by the questions followed by a cross probe analysis where the Level of Informativeness allowed for this to be done. The present studies that were carried out indicated that there was no straightforward way to elicit information as to whether the student had some model in mind or not. However, a number of insights into the way forward were gained. These included the way in which questions could be framed around the issues of the mean that allowed for some level of inference to be made. While some further work still remains insofar as this is concerned, we suggest that these questions be included in future versions of the PMQ.

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Holmes, Alexandra Jane. "Educational experiences as fields of influence in physics : an exploration of the critical incidents in student education." Thesis, University of Sussex, 2015. http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/54996/.

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The purpose of this thesis is to explore the field of influences on the occupational trajectories of physics graduates in the United Kingdom. My research examines the assumptions by government and policy makers that school education holds the key to providing more physicists available for employment in physics-related occupations. The research analyses qualitative data from current and recently graduated students to explore the field of influences on their decisions to take physics, and how these experiences influence their identity as a scientist. My hypothesis tests these assumptions by examining the significant events, or critical incidents, during the educational experience on a physics degree. The research design is a case study of the physics departments of two UK institutions. A series of interviews provides insight into the educational journeys of current and recently graduated physics students and the consequent analysis identifies emergent themes. These themes include how the influences of school education and social and individual expectations engage people into enrolling on a physics degree. Further analysis explores how events occurring on the degree courses may influence occupational trajectories. My findings identify attitudes to laboratory work and institutional feedback as significant influences to this sample of individuals during their degree experience. This work has implications for highlighting the significance of laboratory work in future science education policies, as well as contributing to the extant research on STEM education.

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Little, James. "A Study of Divergent TA Teaching Styles in Inquiry Based Laboratory Education." Diss., The University of Arizona, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/193856.

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This dissertation is a study of the divergent behaviors evidenced by different TAs teaching inquiry based physics laboratories with minimal preparation on how to use techniques such as Socratic dialogue, wait time, and time management. The revised physics laboratory curricula, a four semester laboratory sequence, were studied over the course of two years and one of the laboratory manuals was rewritten and new techniques of TA training developed in order to align TA behavior with the ideals of inquiry based education. This revision was only partially successful, aiding TAs dramatically in improving their time management skills and use of their time, however not yielding dramatic improvements in their use of Socratic dialogue or leading questions.

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Mylott, Elliot Eckman. "Development of Physics Curriculum for Pre-Health Students." PDXScholar, 2017. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/3779.

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Many pre-health students are required to take introductory physics as undergraduates, though they often struggle to see the relationship between medicine and what they learn in these courses. In order to help students make that connection, reformed curriculum was adopted that teaches physics through the context of biomedicine. This dissertation will discuss the development, implementation, and assessment of the reformed curriculum for the introductory and intermediate level physics courses that targets the needs of pre-health students. The curriculum created during this project include laboratory activities, multimedia content, and other instructional materials all of which present physics in biomedical contexts. The laboratory activities focus on exploring the physical principles behind common medical devices or concepts such as body composition analyzers or computed tomography. This often required researching, designing, and building devices for use in the classroom. Videos interviews with biomedical experts detail how physics is used in their fields. The texts written for these courses serve as a fundamental scientific introduction to the physical concepts and technical discussions of their application in biomedicine. An online homework platform allows for the implementation of a flipped classroom. Homework integrates the material, probing both conceptual understanding and problem solving. Multiple forms of assessment have been used to improve the content and clarity of the curriculum. The research for this project includes a study of the impact of these course reforms on students' attitudes toward physics. Shifts in attitudes were assessed using the Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey (CLASS), course surveys, student interviews, and conceptual quizzes. Data was collected from students in the reformed course and a concurrent course taught using a traditional physics curriculum that does not have a focus on biomedicine. The results show that students' attitudes were affected by the reforms in multiple ways including students' ability to contextualize physical phenomenon through biomedical applications. Direct responses from the students indicated that they appreciated that the course included biomedically relevant content. They stated that the course had helped them to make connections with physics that they were not able to make in previous physics classes. However, a portion of the students qualified their approval of the course reforms by stating, for example, that they felt they were missing out on other topics due to the biomedical focus. There is evidence that other factors such as class meeting time could have played a role in students' attitudes as well. Students were surveyed multiple times throughout the year. Results of these surveys show that students' attitudes tend to decrease during fall term, but improve after winter and spring term. These results suggest that greater gains in favorable attitudes could be achieved by course reforms in fall term, where positive attitudes are at a minimum. Illustration-based quizzes were administered to assess students' conceptual understanding and contextualization of different physical phenomena. The quizzes featured open-ended prompts about illustrations similar to those often seen in physics instruction. Few significant differences in conceptual understanding were found between students in the reformed and traditional courses. However, students in the reformed course were more likely to cite biomedical applications of the physical phenomena. These course reforms teach physical principles through their application to biomedical technology and have positively impacted students' appreciation for the relationship between physics and biomedicine.

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Staley, Richard Anthony William. "Max Born and the German physics community." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 1992. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.358333.

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Bermudez, Julia V. "Examining the effects of physics second on high school science achievement." Thesis, California State University, Long Beach, 2014. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1527677.

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In 2007 Pioneer High School, a public school in Whittier, California changed the sequence of its science courses from the Traditional Biology-Chemistry-Physics (B-C-P) to Biology-Physics-Chemistry (B-P-C), or "Physics Second." The California Standards Tests (CSTs) scores in Physics and Chemistry from 2004-2012 were used to determine if there were any effects of the Physics Second sequencing on student achievement in those courses. The data was also used to determine whether the Physics Second sequence had an effect on performance in Physics and Chemistry based on gender.

Independent t tests and chi-square analysis of the data determined an improvement in student performance in Chemistry but not Physics. The 2x2 Factorial ANOVA analysis revealed that in Physics male students performed better on the CSTs than their female peers. In Chemistry, it was noted that male and female students performed equally well. Neither finding was a result ofthe change to the "Physics Second" sequencing.

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Akarsu, Bayram. "Students' conceptual understanding of quantum physics in college level classroom environments." [Bloomington, Ind.] : Indiana University, 2007. http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3274263.

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Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, Dept. of Science Education, 2007.
Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-07, Section: A, page: 2881. Adviser: Valarie L. Akerson. Title from dissertation home page (viewed April 8, 2008).

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Vilaythong, Thongloon. "The role of practical work in physics education in Lao PDR." Doctoral thesis, Umeå universitet, Institutionen för fysik, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-42134.

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The aim of this thesis is to get a better understanding of the role of practical work in physics education in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). The Lao PDR is one of least developed countries in the world with a weak base for science, and poor market opportunities for science graduates. The rapidly expanding educational system has many problems concerning quality of the infrastructure and staff competence. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods was used in the study in order to assure reliability of the results. Data was collected through questionnaires, interviews, video-recordings, and my own ethnographic experiences of working in the Lao educational system for more than thirty years. The study was informed and results analysed with help of curriculum perspective and Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT). The findings show that Lao physics education curriculum at all levels is dominated by very traditional forms of teaching with an almost total absence of practical. Official curricular documents have statements prescribing teachers to do practical work in high school and university courses. However, few institutions have functioning equipment and skilled teachers for organising practical activities. Therefore, the majority of Lao students come to university and even can finish university without experience of practical work in physics. This shows the gap that exists between intended and implemented curricula. The majority of the students understand the importance of having practical activities in physics. However, after being exposed to laboratory experiments in an introductory physics course, they expressed criticism about the quality of instruction and the process of the practical work organisation. The laboratory group work analysis showed that discussions were mainly focused on understanding the experimental procedures, manipulating equipment, and collecting data for the report rather than on the physics content (object of activity, in CHAT terms). Based on the research results, it is possible to suggest that a systemic approach is needed to stimulate the development of a new practical work culture in schools and universities. This approach should include training and incentives for science teachers, development of assessment strategies including practical work, maintenance structures for physics equipment, and technical support for the organisation of demonstrations and laboratory exercises.

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Gale, Micah D. (Micah David). "Developing modern graphite exponential pile experiments to augment reactor physics education." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/119041.

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Thesis: S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, 2018.
This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.
Cataloged from student-submitted PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 39-40).
Reactor Physics is not always an intuitive subject for students to understand. When nuclear engineering was beginning as a field it was common for students to complete measurements on sub-critical reactors, which could not sustain a fission chain reaction, in order to develop student intuition. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has one such reactor, a graphite exponential pile, which went unused for decades. In this thesis the MIT Graphite Exponential Pile was returned to experimental operation, and a prototypic student experiment was completed. The material buckling was found by indium foil activations completed with a plutonium-beryllium source in the pile. From the experimental results it was calculated the pile would have to be a cube with sides that are 5.42m long to become a critical reactor. This proof of concept experiment makes it possible for mens et manus based education at MIT for reactor physics.
by Micah D. Gale.
S.B.

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Cupane, Alberto Felisberto. "Towards a culture-sensitive pedagogy of physics teacher education in Mozambique." Thesis, Curtin University, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/60.

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The problem that I have found while looking for better ways of teaching physics science is that the curriculum we Mozambicans are using 30 years after independence can be hardly distinguished from the colonial curriculum. I generated my research questions based on this problem. I have adopted critical auto/ethnography and related trustworthiness criteria to respond to my research questions. I generated my data by looking from different perspectives at myself as learner, teacher and Mozambican citizen. This research suggests that the actual situation of largely reproducing a colonial science curriculum can be overcome by the inclusion of a view of the world that I call local-indigenous knowledge. I have achieved three main outcomes from this research: The transformation that occurred to me - One of the main transformations was to my perception of my cultural identity. Using contemporary theories of culture and rationality I have explored and more fully realised my Mozambican cultural identity. The meaning of indigeneity and local indigenous knowledge.This research has allowed me to reconceptualise the meaning of indigeneity by exposing how it has been applied in a discriminatory sense and how it could be applied to promote the human dimension that exists in all human beings. A cultural model of teaching - I propose the use of both local indigenous knowledge and World Modern Science to connect students to their history, their culture and their future. My cultural model of teaching encompasses four dimensions: (a) Use of local-indigenous language, (b) Learning by doing using locally available materials, (c) Use of stories to develop students' cultural awareness (identity) and (d) Inclusion of spirituality in science education. These outcomes, which can be deepened and/or transformed by future studies, can be seen as distant from my initial research goal of learning techniques to 'deliver well' the curriculum content of my physics classroom; but, for me, these outcomes illustrate the emergent characteristic of this qualitative inquiry into the self-culture dialectic.

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Dickinson, Deborah L. "Making introductory physics labs meaningful for all students." Thesis, California State University, Long Beach, 2015. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1596460.

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Introductory physics laboratory activities were examined for clarity, purpose, and level of student engagement. Input from physics faculty, graduate teaching assistants, and enrolled students was used to identify areas in need of revision. Modifications were made to one laboratory experience with the goals of engaging students, alignment with 21st century skills, American Association of Physics Teachers best practices and goals for physics labs, and understanding graphs and their use in and out of the context of science. Additionally, a list of ideas with which to modify other laboratory activities in the manual was also created.

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Law, Kan-chung Kenneth. "Collaborative learning : web-based teaching in secondray physics classroom /." Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, 2002. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B25474510.

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Madsen, Adrian M. "Studies of visual attention in physics problem solving." Diss., Kansas State University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/15429.

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Doctor of Philosophy
Department of Physics
N. Sanjay Rebello
The work described here represents an effort to understand and influence visual attention while solving physics problems containing a diagram. Our visual system is guided by two types of processes -- top-down and bottom-up. The top-down processes are internal and determined by ones prior knowledge and goals. The bottom-up processes are external and determined by features of the visual stimuli such as color, and luminance contrast. When solving physics problems both top-down and bottom-up processes are active, but to varying degrees. The existence of two types of processes opens several interesting questions for physics education. For example, how do bottom-up processes influence problem solvers in physics? Can we leverage these processes to draw attention to relevant diagram areas and improve problem-solving? In this dissertation we discuss three studies that investigate these open questions and rely on eye movements as a primary data source. We assume that eye movements reflect a person’s moment-to-moment cognitive processes, providing a window into one’s thinking. In our first study, we compared the way correct and incorrect solvers viewed relevant and novice-like elements in a physics problem diagram. We found correct solvers spent more time attending to relevant areas while incorrect solvers spent more time looking at novice-like areas. In our second study, we overlaid these problems with dynamic visual cues to help students’ redirect their attention. We found that in some cases these visual cues improved problem-solving performance and influenced visual attention. To determine more precisely how the perceptual salience of diagram elements influenced solvers’ attention, we conducted a third study where we manipulated the perceptual salience of the diagram elements via changes in luminance contrast. These changes did not influence participants’ answers or visual attention. Instead, similar to our first study, the time spent looking in various areas of the diagram was related to the correctness of an answer. These results suggest that top-down processes dominate while solving physics problems. In sum, the study of visual attention and visual cueing in particular shows that attention is an important component of physics problem-solving and can potentially be leveraged to improve student performance.

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Wallace, Marsali Beth. "Characteristics of problem solving success in physics." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/8967.

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Skills in problem solving, including finding and applying the appropriate knowledge to a problem, are important learning outcomes from the completion of a Physics degree at University. This thesis investigates the characteristics of successful and unsuccessful novice University students solving problems in Physics in various contexts. Gaining an insight into student behaviour can clarify areas of weakness and potentially provide research based instructional strategies in these contexts. Access to external information during problem solving, such as the Internet, is becoming an increasingly relevant research area, as students use resources for homework questions and then in employment after University. Three chapters (Chapters 3-5) investigate individual novice problem solving with and without resources, such as a textbook. Participants were from introductory years one and two of Undergraduate study at University. The results from this chapter show successful and unsuccessful approaches by students to multi-step problems. One notable result is that unsuccessful students demonstrated an inability to apply the appropriate physics concepts, with or without the availability of resources. These results have implications for the skills required in closed and open-book exams. Three chapters of the thesis focus on the analysis of Peer Instruction (Chapters 6-8), an instructional method designed to improve conceptual understanding. Peer Instruction was used with a first year Introductory University class. Technical word use was not associated with success on Peer Instruction questions. Conversations were also analysed qualitatively. The results reflect diversity in reasoning regardless of correctness on the question. Some recommendations for the implementation of Peer Instruction are presented. The thesis is organised as follows. A literature review was conducted in relevant areas of study and is presented to set the context of the work. Three chapters report the study with novice individuals solving multi-step problems with and without resources. Three further chapters investigate successful and unsuccessful Peer Instruction discussions in Physics. The final results chapter (Chapter 9) presents a study of a group of experts solving physics problems. Overall successful and unsuccessful problem solving strategies were compared, as well as preliminary comparisons between expert and novice behaviour when solving physics problems.

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Kural, Mehmet Hamdi. "Student Perceptions On Their Physics And Mathematics Teachers." Master's thesis, METU, 2006. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12608017/index.pdf.

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the high school students&rsquo
perceptions on effectiveness of their physics and mathematics teachers. For this purpose a 71-item questionnaire, with a reliability coefficient of 0.97, was developed and applied to 1237 9th grade students in Ankara. 30 Physics teachers and 33 Mathematics teachers were evaluated by student ratings in 13 regular high schools and 6 Anatolian lycees. As a result, 17 % of physics teachers and 27% of mathematics teachers found to be considered effective by their students. In addition to this, it is found that specific effective teacher characteristics about teaching ability and interpersonal relationships are possessed in low amounts by most of the physics and mathematics teachers.

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Carroll, Patrick James. "Investigation Into the Use of a Collaborative E-Book Reader AmongIntroductory Physics Students." Miami University / OhioLINK, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1564499307072144.

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White, Tobin Frye. "How to solve a physics problem : negotiating knowledge and identity in introductory university physics /." Thesis, This resource online, 1996. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-08222008-063147/.

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Hehn, Jack G. "The open physics laboratory and characteristics of effective teaching assistants." Thesis, University of North Texas, 1990. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc332740/.

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Wheeler, Christopher. "Finding the Little 'c' in Physics| A Multiple Case Study Examining the Development of Creative Activities in the Physics Classroom." Thesis, Piedmont College, 2016. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10106807.

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This study focused on how physics teachers develop and implement activities that promote creative thinking strategies in the standards based physics classroom. A particular focus was placed on every day or little `c? creativity, which can be taught in the high school classroom. The study utilized a multiple case study design, which allows for in-depth study in a variety of settings. Four participants from various high schools were identified utilizing administrator recommendations. Data were then collected via interviews, observations, and documents. The data were coded and analyzed for emerging themes. The themes were then merged to determine findings to the stated research questions. The research demonstrated the importance of modifying activities for student interest and understanding through effective use of scientific inquiry. The past experiences and professional development of the participants served as a vital piece to the development of their educational pedagogy especially concerning inquiry and questioning strategies. It was also established that an unstructured, positive classroom environment is a vital aspect of teaching while supporting creative thinking skills.

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May, David B. "How Are Learning Physics And Student Beliefs About Learning Physics Connected? Measuring Epistemological Self-Reflection In An Introductory Course And Investigating Its Relationship To Conceptual Learning." Columbus, Ohio : Ohio State University, 2002. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=osu1030034022.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2002.
Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xv, 193 p. Includes abstract and vita. Advisor: Gordon J. Aubrecht, Dept. of Physics. Includes bibliographical references (p. 187-193).

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