Physics

One of the objectives of the undergraduate physics curriculum is for students to develop an awareness of the connections between formal physical principles and personal experience. However, data from surveys administered to measure changes in students' beliefs about physics shows that awareness of connections between the abstract and the experiential tends to deteriorate, sometimes significantly, following instruction in undergraduate physics courses. Although this phenomenon has been discussed extensively in the literature, and preliminary studies have indicated that addressing students' beliefs about physics with specific teaching practices can have measurable effects, few pedagogical interventions have been designed or implemented to address this particular weakness in undergraduate physics instruction. In this work, we show that a contemplative practice consisting of a somatic meditation followed by a contemplation expands students' awareness of the connections between formal physical principles and personal experience by deliberately drawing their attention to electromagnetic phenomena in their surroundings. In this process, students also naturally recognize interdisciplinary connections between electrodynamic principles and chemical and biological systems. We also find that the contemplative practice inculcates a sense of curiosity and an intrinsic motivation to deepen their understanding of electromagnetic theory, as well as an appreciation for the somatic, affective, and cognitive benefits of a contemplative practice.

We investigate the impact of content sequencing on student learning outcomes in a first-year university electromagnetism course. Using a custom-built online system, the McGill Learning Platform (McLEAP), we test student problem-solving performance as a function of the sequence in which the students are presented aspects of new material. New material was divided into the three categories of conceptual, theoretical and example-based content. Here, we present findings from a two-year study with over 1000 students participating. We find that content sequencing has a significant impact on learning outcomes in our study: students presented with conceptual content first perform significantly better on our assessment than those presented with theoretical content. To explain these results, we propose the Content Cube as an extension to the the mental model frameworks. Additionally, we find that instructors' preferences for content sequencing differ significantly from that of students. We discuss how this information can be used to improve course instruction and student learning, and motivate future work building upon our presented results to study the impact of additional factors on student performance.

The goal of this paper is have bringing a reflect on the experience of applying a continuing education course in Astronomy Teaching for teachers from two municipal networks, know Laranja da Terra (ES) and Guarapari (ES). Here we are presenting a brief of the course offered by Ifes-Guarapari for these networks as well as analyzes the experience reports, font of collection of data, done by the course participants, which was guided by diagnostic questions that allowed the systematization of the course participants' perceptions in the developed training process. After the systematization and analysis of the texts, the reflection was as follows: a) the existence of a demand for training in the area of astronomical knowledge; b) the potential of Astronomy Teaching as a provider of innovative pedagogical practices in the school context as well as its interdisciplinary potential; and c) notes for improvement in the construction and offer of new training courses in Astronomy for elementary school professionals.

We present the results of an experience of teaching updating dispensed to Italian high-school physics teachers to promote the application of the Cooperative Problem Solving method as an useful strategy to improve physics learning at high-school level and to foster the development of problem solving skills. Beside analysing the method and discussing the ways to propose and apply it in a high-school context, the teachers experienced the method acting both as learners and as tutors of student group learners. Students and teachers evaluated as positive the experience, mainly focusing on cooperation within the group by information exchange and the application of a solution scheme. The ex-post analysis of the students' performance in applying the method to solve some rich context text showed the need of improving critical sense with respect to achieved results to fully exploit the strategy and develop their problem solving skills. Finally, an analysis on gender differences and scholar distribution of students is presented.

Mathematical reasoning with algebraic and graphical representations is essential for success in physics courses. Many problems require students to fluently move between algebraic and graphical representations. We developed a freely available serious game to challenge the representational fluency of introductory students regarding vector fields. Within the game, interactive puzzles are solved using different types of vector fields that must be configured with the correct mathematical parameters. A reward system implemented in the game prevents from using trial-and-error approaches and instead encourages the player to establish a mental connection between the graphical representation of the vector field and the (algebraic) equation before taking any action. For correct solutions, the player receives points and can unlock further levels. We report about the aim of the game from an educational perspective, describe potential learning scenarios and reflect about a first attempt to use the game in the classroom.

Higher education products or services received by students are experiential values. The purpose of this study is how to create the values of student experience so that student satisfaction arises. Higher education should now focus on students by creating strong ties with students and alumni. This research was conducted with a survey confirmatory approach. The survey was conducted at 32 universities in South Sumatra Province, Indonesia with a total sample of 357 students. The sampling technique used was stratified random sampling and data analysis using structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis. The results showed that the values of experience in HE were formed through increased cocreation in HE, where students were directly involved in various campus activities. High co-creation shows that there is a stronger attachment of students to HE and a higher value of student experience. Co-creation does not directly affect student satisfaction, but it does indirectly affect experience value. If the value of experience is higher, student satisfaction will also be higher.

Physics outreach programs provide a critical context for informal experiences that promote the transition from new student to contributing physicist. Prior studies have suggested a positive link between participation in informal physics outreach programs and the development of a student's physics identity. In this study, we adopt a student-focused investigation to explore the effects of informal programs on dimensions of physics identity, sense of community, 21st century skill development, and motivation. We employed a mixed methods study combining a survey instrument (117 responses) and interviews (35) with current and former undergraduate and graduate students who participated in five programs through a physics and astronomy department at a large land-grant university. To examine interviews, we employed a framework based on situated learning theory, transformative learning theory, and the Dynamic Systems Model of Role Identity. Our findings, based on self-reported data, show that students who facilitated informal physics programs positively developed their physics identity, experienced increased sense of belonging to the physics community, and developed 21st century career skills. Specifically, students reported positive benefits to their communication, teamwork and networking, and design skills. The benefits of these programs can be achieved by departments of any size without significant commitment of funds or changes to curriculum.

We propose and define the construct, cross-disciplinary learning, which can guide learning and assessment in programs that feature sequential learning across multiple STEM disciplines. Cross-disciplinary learning combines insights from interdisciplinary learning, transfer, and resources frameworks and highlights the processes of resource activation, transformation, and integration to support sensemaking in a novel disciplinary context by drawing on knowledge from other, prerequisite disciplines. We describe two measurement approaches based on this construct: A paired multiple choice instrument set to measure the extent of cross-disciplinary learning, and a think-aloud interview approach to provide insights into which resources are activated, and how they are used, in making sense of an unfamiliar phenomenon. We offer implications for program and course assessment.

The deformation of a loaded bike tire has been analyzed with a model consisting of a toroid of thin inextensible walls mounted on a central rim. If the tire radius is much shorter than the rim radius, the deflection, d, of the tire can be calculated as a function of the applied load, F. The solution can be approximated to a power law dependennce F proportional to d^(3/2) for small loads. The theoretical predictions compare well with the experiments carried out on two bicycle tires.

We detail an experimental programme we have been testing in our university. Our Advanced Hackspace, attempts to give all members of the university, from students to technicians, free access to the means to develop their own interdisciplinary research ideas, with resources including access to specialized fellows and biological and chemical hacklabs. We assess the aspects of our programme that led to our community being one of the largest collectives in our university and critically examine the successes and failures of our trial programmes. We supply metrics for assessing progress and outline challenges. We conclude with future directions that advance interdisciplinary research empowerment for all university members.