Assessment of Student Learning in Modern Experiments in the Introductory Calculus-Based Physics Labs

ORAL

Abstract

With the advent of newer microelectronic sensors it's now possible to modernize introductory physics labs with the latest technology and this may allow for enhanced student participation/learning in the experiments. For example, force plate sensors can digitize and record the force on an object, later it can be analyzed in detail (i.e, impulse from force vs. time). Small 3-axis accelerometers can record 3-dim, time-dependent acceleration of objects undergoing complex motions. These devices are small, fairly easy to use, and importantly, are likely to enhance student learning by ``personalizing'' data collection, i.e. making the student an active part of the measurement process and no longer a passive observer. To assess whether these new high-tech labs enhance student learning, we have implemented pre- and post- test sessions to measure the effectiveness of student learning. Four of our calculus-based lab sections were used: Two sections the control group, using the previous ``old technology'' labs, the other two, the experimental group, using the new ``modern technology'' labs. Initial returns of assessment data offer some surprising insight.

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Authors

  • Brian Woodahl

    IUPUI

  • Carla Benton

    Fratii Buzesti College, Craiova, Romania, Cleveland State University, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, Case Western Reserve University, HISKP Universitaet Bonn, IKP-3 Forschungszentrum Juelich, IAS-4 Forschungszentrum Juelich, Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum, IUPUI, Miami University, Physics Department, Kent State University, LCI, Kent State University, National High Magnetic Field Lab, Brookhaven National Laboratory, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, The University of Akron

  • Carla Benton

    Fratii Buzesti College, Craiova, Romania, Cleveland State University, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, Case Western Reserve University, HISKP Universitaet Bonn, IKP-3 Forschungszentrum Juelich, IAS-4 Forschungszentrum Juelich, Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum, IUPUI, Miami University, Physics Department, Kent State University, LCI, Kent State University, National High Magnetic Field Lab, Brookhaven National Laboratory, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, The University of Akron

  • Carla Benton

    Fratii Buzesti College, Craiova, Romania, Cleveland State University, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, Case Western Reserve University, HISKP Universitaet Bonn, IKP-3 Forschungszentrum Juelich, IAS-4 Forschungszentrum Juelich, Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum, IUPUI, Miami University, Physics Department, Kent State University, LCI, Kent State University, National High Magnetic Field Lab, Brookhaven National Laboratory, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, The University of Akron

  • Carla Benton

    Fratii Buzesti College, Craiova, Romania, Cleveland State University, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, Case Western Reserve University, HISKP Universitaet Bonn, IKP-3 Forschungszentrum Juelich, IAS-4 Forschungszentrum Juelich, Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum, IUPUI, Miami University, Physics Department, Kent State University, LCI, Kent State University, National High Magnetic Field Lab, Brookhaven National Laboratory, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, The University of Akron