Pedagogical Innovations to Enhance Student Learning in Physics Labs

M.T.F. Caramés, C. Prieto , M.J. SantosDpto. Física Fundamental/ Dpto. Física Aplicada

University of Salamanca

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

• Bolonia: great effort to emphasize the

importance of lab work

• Lab matters are costly both in material and

human resources

• We have been performing different innovative

teaching practices

• Analyze the results through a survey

Lab Matters at the Physics Degree

Physics Lab

6 ECTS

1

Electronics Instrumentation

Mechanics Lab

Electromagnetism Lab

Thermodinamical Lab

2

Electronics Lab

Nuclear Physics Lab (Opt.)

4

Optics Lab

Quantum Physics Lab

3

3 ECTS each

Specific skills

Physics

Knowledge

Critical thinking

Math. Ability

Inf. Sources

Modeling

Team Work

Ind. Thinking

Appl. Other fields

Specific skills

Physics

Knowledge

Critical thinking

Math. Ability

Inf. Sources

Modeling

Team Work

Ind. Thinking

Appl. Other fields

Specific Skills are acquired in a progressive way

Pre-Lab Activities• Seminars: get familiar with

lab equipment and protocol

• Videos of the real lab

• Applets

• Worked examples

• Self assessment quizzes

• All learning material available for the student at Studium

In-Lab Activities

Traditional

teams of 2-3 members

individual report is

demanded

exam

Innovation

computers are used

peer tutoring

rubric

Studium

Assessment of lab work

Exam

•oral or written

•Online or presential

Individual reports

• the way data and graphics are displayed and structured,

• the discussion of the results

• the personal conclusion

Design of the experience

• Make surveys among students.

• They help us analyze theperformance of theprevious innovationactions

• Detect weak points

• Design future activitiesor teaching material

Aim: plan common future improvements

Results: General Facts

• Two promotions:

ending 2013 and 2014

1: Strongly disagree

2: Disagree

3: Agree

4: Strongly agree

Understand

theory

Relate to

theory

Motivate Connect to

real world

Satisfactory

Results: General Facts

• Two promotions:

ending 2013 and 2014

1: Strongly disagree

2: Disagree

3: Agree

4: Strongly agree

Understand

theory

Relate to

theory

Motivate Connect to

real world

Satisfactory

The lab …

Results: General Facts

• Two promotions:

ending 2013 and 2014

• High degree of

satisfaction

1: Strongly disagree

2: Disagree

3: Agree

4: Strongly agree

Understand

theory

Relate to

theory

Motivate Connect to

real world

Satisfactory

The lab …

Results: General Facts

• Two promotions:

ending 2013 and 2014

• High degree of

satisfaction

1: Strongly disagree

2: Disagree

3: Agree

4: Strongly agree

Understand

theory

Relate to

theory

Motivate Connect to

real world

Satisfactory

The lab …

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

4

3

2

1

13 14 13 14 13 14

Unified procedure Concept before Concept after

Results: Procedure

Understand before

going to lab

Understand after

going to lab

The labs should

be unified

The previous work

has improved

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

4

3

2

1

13 14 13 14 13 14

Unified procedure Concept before Concept after

Results: Procedure

Understand before

going to lab

Understand after

going to lab

The labs should

be unified

The previous work

has improved

Very satisfactory!

Results: Pedagogical Resources

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

4

3

2

1

13 14 13 14 13 14 13 14 13 14 13 14

Theory

seminars

Presentations

or videos

In-lab

explanation

Question: Did you find these resources useful?

Help of

teacher

Instruction

sheets

Bibliography

Results: Students’ activities

Question: Do you find these activities useful?

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

4

3

2

1

13 14 13 14 13 14 13 14 13 14 13 14 13 14

Computing

by hand

Computing by

data sheet

Written

report

Questionnaires

before lab

Quest.

after lab

Oral

presentation

Exam

Results: Students’ activities

Question: Do you find these activities useful?

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

4

3

2

1

13 14 13 14 13 14 13 14 13 14 13 14 13 14

Computing

by hand

Computing by

data sheet

Written

report

Questionnaires

before lab

Quest.

after lab

Oral

presentation

Exam

Final Remarks

• A combination of new and traditional resources has

been implemented in Physics Labs during the last

years

• A survey was designed to evaluate the perception of

the students about the pedagogical resources.

• This is a valuable material in order to detect weak

points and help us create new teaching material

• There should be a critical thought on the ítems

considered as negative

• The general trend is satisfactory and a positive

evolution appears to be present.