Pedagogy of Plasma Processing

This project is focused on improving concept retention and understanding with the use of inquiryand project- based laboratory design. The construction of a probe for electric field measurement in an introductory electricity and magnetism course provides this design. The laboratory can be expanded to take up to four weeks or shortened to be a two-hour lab exercise. Pre and post assessments of student understanding are assessed for a class with the addition of the lab. The pre and post assessments allowed computation of learning gains in electromagnetic fields concepts. The responses to one of the concept test questions were studied as well as the overall learning gain. Average learning gains of 5% resulted from the activity as measured by five pre and post conceptual questions. These are promising, considering recent reports that students completing traditional laboratory activities feel they could be done without an understanding of the underpinning physics concepts.