Phenomenological Investigations for Introductory Physics

Spelman College, Atlanta GA

Investigators

Abstract

Physics (13) This project continues the Spelman College Physics Department's revision of the structure and pedagogy of the laboratory sessions associated with its second-semester, calculus-based introductory electricity and magnetism course. The new laboratories are based on student-centered exploration of complex real-world phenomena (design of the wiring for a house and the use of electric fields by fish to sense nearby objects) and include students planning and performing experiments, small-group and class discussions, and metacognitive activities such as reflection. Within constraints set by the instructor, the detailed flow of laboratory activities depend, to a large extent, on choices made by the students. In addition to using existing tests for assessment of content knowledge, newly designed instruments, including a rubric for coding and evaluating video of student work to assess their process skills, are being developed.