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Adam Lark - Dissertation Final 2.pdf (12.54 MB)

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Implementation of Scientific Community Laboratories and Their Effect on Student Conceptual Learning, Attitudes, and Understanding of Uncertainty

Lark, Adam Christopher
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1396537933

Abstract Details

2014, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toledo, Physics.
Scientific Community Laboratories, developed by The University of Maryland, have shown initial promise as laboratories meant to emulate the practice of doing physics. These laboratories have been re-created by incorporating their design elements with the University of Toledo course structure and resources. The laboratories have been titled the Scientific Learning Community (SLC) Laboratories. A comparative study between these SLC laboratories and the University of Toledo physics department’s traditional laboratories was executed during the fall 2012 semester on first semester calculus-based physics students. Three tests were executed as pre-test and post-tests to capture the change in students’ concept knowledge, attitudes, and understanding of uncertainty. The Force Concept Inventory (FCI) was used to evaluate students’ conceptual changes through the semester and average normalized gains were compared between both traditional and SLC laboratories. The Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey for Experimental Physics (E-CLASS) was conducted to elucidate students’ change in attitudes through the course of each laboratory. Finally, interviews regarding data analysis and uncertainty were transcribed and coded to track changes in the way students understand uncertainty and data analysis in experimental physics after their participation in both laboratory type. Students in the SLC laboratories showed a notable an increase conceptual knowledge and attitudes when compared to traditional laboratories. SLC students’ understanding of uncertainty showed most improvement, diverging completely from students in the traditional laboratories, who declined throughout the semester.
Lawrence Anderson-Huang (Committee Chair)
Rebecca Schneider (Committee Member)
Richard Irving (Committee Member)
Song Cheng (Committee Member)
Jon Bjorkman (Committee Member)
182 p.
Education; Educational Tests and Measurements; Physics; Science Education

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Lark, A. C. (2014). Implementation of Scientific Community Laboratories and Their Effect on Student Conceptual Learning, Attitudes, and Understanding of Uncertainty [Doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1396537933

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Lark, Adam. Implementation of Scientific Community Laboratories and Their Effect on Student Conceptual Learning, Attitudes, and Understanding of Uncertainty. 2014. University of Toledo, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1396537933.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Lark, Adam. "Implementation of Scientific Community Laboratories and Their Effect on Student Conceptual Learning, Attitudes, and Understanding of Uncertainty." Doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1396537933

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

toledo1396537933
1,402
© 2014, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Toledo and OhioLINK.