Girls in Physics

Victoria MillarMelbourne Girls’ College

Dr Maurizio ToscanoFaculty of Education, The University of Melbourne

Australian School Innovation in Science, Technology and Mathematics (ASISTM) Project

Outline

• The Girls In Physics Project

• IOP Report

• Local Context – VCAA Data

• Issues and Discussion

The Girls in Physics Project

• Australian School Innovation in Science, Technology and Mathematics (ASISTM) Grant

• Funding to improve the retention of girls into post compulsory physics

Cluster• Canterbury Girls’ Secondary College• MacRobertson Girls’ High School• Matthew Flinders Girls’ Secondary College• Melbourne Girls’ College• Mentone Girls’ Secondary College• Preston Girls’ Secondary College

• The School of Physics, The University of Melbourne• Faculty of Education, The University of Melbourne

Our Aims

• Address the educational and social factors affecting girls’ choice to undertake post-compulsory physics.

• Raise the profile of physics amongst girls.

• PD for non-physics trained science teachers.

How?• Teachers will receive high quality,

intensive professional development.

• Non physics trained teachers work with DipEd students to develop units of work for 7-10

• A collection of resources and teaching material will be established online.

Institute of Physics Report• IOP has commissioned two reports written

by Liz Whitelegg and Patricia Murphy.

• The first is a comprehensive review of the last 30 years of research into girls and physics

• The second is a more qualitative survey of best practice in physics teaching

Background

IOP commissioned report because:

• Decade of decline in recruitment to A-level physics, particularly for girls

• Closure of University Physics departments

• Physics identified as a ‘vulnerable strategic subject’

Areas Covered• Interests, Motivation, Course Choices and

Career Aspirations

• Relevance and Curriculum Interventions

• Teacher Effects

• Single Sex School and Groupings

• Measures and Perceptions of Difficulty

Interest and Motivation

• Interest and enjoyment alone not sufficient reasons to continue studying physics

• Prior achievement important influence on course choices

• Males rate themselves as more successful learners – more willing to consider maths and science irrespective of their success

Relevance and Curriculum• Girls, more than boys, consider that physical

sciences are not personally relevant• What boys pay attention to and engage with is

generally valued and judged relevant in physics• Girls and boys have been taught to value

different things• Students are prejudiced against context based

learning

Context-Based Approach• There is evidence to show that this

approach better meets the needs of all students

• Promotes discussion and critique between students and teachers

Teacher Effects• Supportive teacher-student relationships are

more important for girls than boys• Boys’ as a group receive more teacher attention

than girls • Feedback differs – girls receive feedback on

quality of work; boys on behaviour.  This allows boys to retain confidence in their ability

• Teachers of physics hold lower expectations for girls

Single Sex Schooling and Groupings

• Only when pedagogy and curriculum are effective and inclusive and teachers are gender sensitive do single-sex groupings enhance girls’ achievement and self-concept

• Decline in interest and enjoyment attributed to curriculum experience (content overload), particularly in top groups, rather than single/mixed sex schooling.

Measures and Perceptions of Difficulty

• Girls expect grades lower than they achieve

• Correlation between maths and physics – both perceived as difficult

• Students’ perception of physics as difficult increases with age

Recommendations• Interventions needs to come early

• Students’ views need to be addressed

• Long term evaluation of physics curriculum

• Pedagogic changes

• Further research into the basis for the belief in the difficulty of physics

• Access to achievement data

Gender Comparisons in VCE Physics, Chemistry and Specialist Maths VCAA 2004

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

%

% Males Unit 3 Physics

% Females Unit 3 Physics

% Males Unit 3 Chemistry

% Females Unit 3 Chemistry

% Males Unit 3 Specialist

% Females Unit 3 Specialist

Physics Chem Spec M

Unit 3 Exam 2004

Unit 4 Exam 2004

• The Review findings reveal a complex problem that limits students’, particularly girls’, access to physics

• This leads to girls’ increased sense of inadequacy and the growing belief of the difficulty in the subject

Issues and Discussion

Issues and Discussion

• Many factors in physics curriculum, teaching and assessment that undermine or deny girls’ sense of competency

• Perceptions of competence alone not sufficient to influence girls’ choices – girls need to perceive a future in physics that will help girls achieve their goals.

Victoria Millar

vmillar@mgc.vic.edu.au

Maurizio Toscano

m.toscano@unimelb.edu.au