Assessing student learning of Newton's laws: The Force and Motion Conceptual Evaluation and the Evaluation of Active Learning Laboratory and Lecture Curricula

American Journal of Physics

Volumn 66, Issue 4, 1998, Pages 338-352

  Thornton, Ronald K ^a   Sokoloff, David R ^b  

^a TUFTS UNIVERSITY   (United States)

^b UNIVERSITY OF OREGON   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 0032366218     PISSN: 00029505     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1119/1.18863     Document Type: Article

References (22)

1. Revisions and updates of the Force and Motion Conceptual Evaluation, as well as conceptual evaluations under development in other areas of physics, are available from the Center for Science and Mathematics Teaching, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, MA 02155, or from the Workshop Physics On-line Instructor Resource Guide on the World Wide Web at http://physics.dickinson.edu.
2. This work was supported in part by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. USE-9150589, "Student Oriented Science," Grant No. USE-9153725, "The Workshop Physics Laboratory Featuring Tools for Scientific Thinking," and Grant No. TPE-8751481, "Tools for Scientific Thinking: MBL for Teaching Science Teachers," and by the Fund for Improvement of Post-secondary Education (FIPSE) of the U.S. Department of Education under Grant No. G008642149, "Tools for Scientific Thinking," and number P116B90692, "Interactive Physics."
3. R. K. Thornton and D. R. Sokoloff, "Learning motion concepts using real-time, microcomputer-based laboratory tools," Am. J. Phys. 58, 858-867 (1990).
4. R. K. Thornton, "Using large-scale classroom research to study student conceptual learning in mechanics and to develop new approaches to learning," in Microcomputer-Based Labs: Educational Research and Standards, edited by Robert F. Tinker, Series F, Computer and Systems Sciences 156, 89-114 (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1996).
5. R. K. Thornton, "Conceptual dynamics: Changing student views of force and motion," in Thinking Physics for Teaching, edited by C. Tarsitani, C. Bernardini, and M. Vincentini (Plenum, London, 1995).
6. R. K. Thornton, "Changing the physics teaching laboratory: Using technology and new approaches to learning to create an experiential environment for learning physics concepts," Proceedings of the Europhysics Study Conference, The Role of Experiment in Physics Education, edited by Seta Oblak and Nada Razpet (Ljubljana, Slovenia, 1993).
7. Ronald K. Thornton, "Learning physics concepts in the introductory course: Microcomputer-based Labs and Interactive Lecture Demonstrations," in Proc. Conf. on the Intro. Physics Course, edited by Jack Wilson (Wiley, New York, 1997), pp. 69-85.
8. A. B. Arons, A Guide to Introductory Physics Teaching (Wiley, New York, 1990).
9. L. C. McDermott, "Research on conceptual understanding in mechanics," Phys. Today 37, 24-32 (1984).
10. L. C. McDermott, "Guest comment: How we teach and how students learn - a mismatch?," Am. J. Phys. 61, 295-298 (1993).
11. L. C. McDermott, "Millikan lecture 1990: What we teach and what is learned - closing the gap," Am. J. Phys. 59, 301-315 (1991).
12. J. A. Halloun and D. Hestenes, "The initial knowledge state of college physics students," Am. J. Phys. 53, 1043-1056 (1985).
13. D. Hestenes, M. Wells, and G. Schwackhammer, "Force concept inventory," Phys. Teach. 30(3), 141-158 (1992).
14. L. C. McDermott, P. Shaffer, and M. D. Somers, "Research as a guide for teaching introductory mechanics: An illustration in the context of the Atwood's machine," Am. J. Phys. 62, 46-55 (1994).
15. M. Wells, D. Hestenes, and G. Schwackhammer, "A modeling method for high school physics instruction," Am. J. Phys. 63, 606-619 (1995).
16. Ronald K. Thornton and David R. Sokoloff, Tools for Scientific Thinking - Motion and Force Laboratory Curriculum and Teachers' Guide (Vernier Software, Portland, OR, 1992), 2nd ed.
17. David R. Sokoloff, Priscilla W. Laws, and Ronald K. Thornton, RealTime Physics: Mechanics V. 1.40 (Vernier Software, Portland, OR, 1994).
18. Ronald K. Thornton and David R. Sokoloff, "RealTime Physics: Active Learning Laboratory," in The Changing Role of Physics Departments in Modern Universities: Proceedings of the International Conference on Undergraduate Physics Education, edited by E. F. Redish and J. S. Rigden (American Institute of Physics, Woodbury, NY, 1997), pp. 1101-1118.
19. The MBL probes, interface, software, and curricula discussed here are available from Vernier Software, 8565 Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway, Portland, OR 97225-2429.
20. P. W. Laws, "Calculus-based physics without lectures," Phys. Today 44(12), 24-31 (1991).
21. David R. Sokoloff and Ronald K. Thornton, "Using interactive lecture demonstrations to create an active learning environment," Phys. Teach. 35(6), 340-47 1997 (in press).
22. Copies of the complete mechanics Interactive Lecture Demonstration package, including teacher instructions and student Prediction and Results sheets are available from Vernier Software, 8565 Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway, Portland, OR 97225-2429.