Post on 23-Jun-2015
description
Pedagogical Innovations to Enhance Student Learning in Physics Labs
M.T.F. Caramés, C. Prieto , M.J. SantosDpto. Física Fundamental/ Dpto. Física Aplicada
University of Salamanca
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
• Bolonia: great effort to emphasize the
importance of lab work
• Lab matters are costly both in material and
human resources
• We have been performing different innovative
teaching practices
• Analyze the results through a survey
Lab Matters at the Physics Degree
Physics Lab
6 ECTS
1
Electronics Instrumentation
Mechanics Lab
Electromagnetism Lab
Thermodinamical Lab
2
Electronics Lab
Nuclear Physics Lab (Opt.)
4
Optics Lab
Quantum Physics Lab
3
3 ECTS each
Specific skills
Physics
Knowledge
Critical thinking
Math. Ability
Inf. Sources
Modeling
Team Work
Ind. Thinking
Appl. Other fields
Specific skills
Physics
Knowledge
Critical thinking
Math. Ability
Inf. Sources
Modeling
Team Work
Ind. Thinking
Appl. Other fields
Specific Skills are acquired in a progressive way
Pre-Lab Activities• Seminars: get familiar with
lab equipment and protocol
• Videos of the real lab
• Applets
• Worked examples
• Self assessment quizzes
• All learning material available for the student at Studium
In-Lab Activities
Traditional
teams of 2-3 members
individual report is
demanded
exam
Innovation
computers are used
peer tutoring
rubric
Studium
Assessment of lab work
Exam
•oral or written
•Online or presential
Individual reports
• the way data and graphics are displayed and structured,
• the discussion of the results
• the personal conclusion
Design of the experience
• Make surveys among students.
• They help us analyze theperformance of theprevious innovationactions
• Detect weak points
• Design future activitiesor teaching material
Aim: plan common future improvements
Results: General Facts
• Two promotions:
ending 2013 and 2014
1: Strongly disagree
2: Disagree
3: Agree
4: Strongly agree
Understand
theory
Relate to
theory
Motivate Connect to
real world
Satisfactory
Results: General Facts
• Two promotions:
ending 2013 and 2014
1: Strongly disagree
2: Disagree
3: Agree
4: Strongly agree
Understand
theory
Relate to
theory
Motivate Connect to
real world
Satisfactory
The lab …
Results: General Facts
• Two promotions:
ending 2013 and 2014
• High degree of
satisfaction
1: Strongly disagree
2: Disagree
3: Agree
4: Strongly agree
Understand
theory
Relate to
theory
Motivate Connect to
real world
Satisfactory
The lab …
Results: General Facts
• Two promotions:
ending 2013 and 2014
• High degree of
satisfaction
1: Strongly disagree
2: Disagree
3: Agree
4: Strongly agree
Understand
theory
Relate to
theory
Motivate Connect to
real world
Satisfactory
The lab …
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
4
3
2
1
13 14 13 14 13 14
Unified procedure Concept before Concept after
Results: Procedure
Understand before
going to lab
Understand after
going to lab
The labs should
be unified
The previous work
has improved
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
4
3
2
1
13 14 13 14 13 14
Unified procedure Concept before Concept after
Results: Procedure
Understand before
going to lab
Understand after
going to lab
The labs should
be unified
The previous work
has improved
Very satisfactory!
Results: Pedagogical Resources
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
4
3
2
1
13 14 13 14 13 14 13 14 13 14 13 14
Theory
seminars
Presentations
or videos
In-lab
explanation
Question: Did you find these resources useful?
Help of
teacher
Instruction
sheets
Bibliography
Results: Students’ activities
Question: Do you find these activities useful?
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
4
3
2
1
13 14 13 14 13 14 13 14 13 14 13 14 13 14
Computing
by hand
Computing by
data sheet
Written
report
Questionnaires
before lab
Quest.
after lab
Oral
presentation
Exam
Results: Students’ activities
Question: Do you find these activities useful?
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
4
3
2
1
13 14 13 14 13 14 13 14 13 14 13 14 13 14
Computing
by hand
Computing by
data sheet
Written
report
Questionnaires
before lab
Quest.
after lab
Oral
presentation
Exam
Final Remarks
• A combination of new and traditional resources has
been implemented in Physics Labs during the last
years
• A survey was designed to evaluate the perception of
the students about the pedagogical resources.
• This is a valuable material in order to detect weak
points and help us create new teaching material
• There should be a critical thought on the ítems
considered as negative
• The general trend is satisfactory and a positive
evolution appears to be present.