Physics Education
Research-based multiple-choice questions implemented in class with peer instruction have been shown to be an effective tool for improving students' engagement and learning outcomes. Moreover, multiple-choice questions that are carefully…
Student performance of virtual introductory physics class (calculus-based mechanics) is analyzed. A fully web-enhanced class was done synchronously. The analysis is done in two categories, averaging all mid-exams (or chapter exams) and…
We developed a vacuum generation system composed of a reciprocating compressor (3 tons of refrigeration) with an inverted-function that is ready to be hooked flexibly to a gas-tight container to create an evacuated enclosed atmosphere,…
At an AAPT conference years ago, a person noticed my badge, exclaiming "I always wanted to work at Foothill College!" They told me that in the 1960s, Foothill had a lecture hall where students as a class could give immediate feedback to…
The well-known artificial intelligence-based chatbot ChatGPT-4 has become able to process image data as input in October 2023. We investigated its performance on the Test of Understanding Graphs in Kinematics to inform the physics education…
Previous studies conclusively show that pencil-and-paper lecture-tutorials (LTs) are incredibly effective at increasing student engagement and learning gains on a variety of topics when compared to traditional lecture. LTs in astronomy are…
Two-stage exams, which pair a traditional individual exam with a subsequent collaborative exam, are widely popular with both students and faculty for fostering deep engagement, collaboration, and immediate feedback. Over the last decade,…
A classroom activity for high school physics students is presented to explore the distinction between correlation and causation. Using data linking ice cream sales to drowning deaths, presented within a fictional news article, students…
Instruction in quantum mechanics is becoming increasingly important as the field is not only a key part of modern physics research, but is also important for emerging technologies. However, many students regard quantum mechanics as a…
For this study, we compared the attitudes and beliefs about science of physical science (physics and mathematics) and life science (biochemistry and biology) students at the beginning of their university degrees using the CLASS (Colorado…
The Ampere-Maxwell's law and the displacement current constitute one of the most difficult aspects of electromagnetic theory for students in introductory electromagnetics courses. Here we present a set of examples that go beyond the…
This mentoring resource is a guide to establishing and running near-peer mentorship programs. It is based on the working knowledge and best practices developed by the Access Network, a collection of nine student-led communities at…
In physics education research, instructors and researchers often use research-based assessments (RBAs) to assess students' skills and knowledge. In this paper, we support the development of a mechanics cognitive diagnostic to test and…
The integration of environmental education into the school curriculum can be inspiring for students to assimilate scientific concepts and methods presented in the Science subjects in a contextualized and interdisciplinary way. To carry out…
The rapid advancement of digital technologies in the first quarter of the 21st century has introduced significant transformations in various fields, such as communication, healthcare, and education. However, it has also led to an increase…
The experiment performed by Henry Cavendish to measure the density of the earth, is in numerous textbooks described as a measurement of the universal gravitational constant, G, even if we know that this was not true. In this paper, a study…
Women from historically marginalized groups in the sciences continue to be severely underrepresented in the fields of physics and astronomy. Young girls identifying with these groups often lose interest in science, technology, engineering,…
Misconception is the difference between a student's idea and his scientific concept. Physics learning needs to be designed by teachers to minimize misconceptions. Different diagnostic tools have been developed and used by researchers to…
With the increasing industrial relevance of quantum technologies (QTs), a new quantum workforce with special qualification will be needed. Building this workforce requires educational efforts, ranging from short term training to degree…
Student misconceptions of the double-slit experiment are abundant. We have designed an exercise that helps to overcome them.