The new struggleThe new struggleFunded through FIRTLFunded through FIRTL

““If you are passionate about the If you are passionate about the teaching of science there could be no teaching of science there could be no better place or time to be located than better place or time to be located than in South Africa at the start of the 21in South Africa at the start of the 21stst century.”century.”[Case, Marshall – 2006][Case, Marshall – 2006]

Gillian Arendse, Department of Physics Gillian Arendse, Department of Physics (SU)(SU)Delia Marshall (UWC)Delia Marshall (UWC)Protea Hotel, Stellenbosch, May 2007Protea Hotel, Stellenbosch, May 2007

Students are under preparedStudents are under prepared

Physics 114: Physics 114: CLASS TEST: 42 %CLASS TEST: 42 %

MATRIC (Physical Science): 66%MATRIC (Physical Science): 66%

Pilot study (2006): Pilot study (2006): Active engagementActive engagement

Concepts 1Concepts 1stst

ILD’sILD’s

Flash cardsFlash cards

Data Data collectioncollection

Student experience – free format

Observation

Interviews with 20 students

FindingsFindings

3 broad types of responses3 broad types of responses

Students enthusiastic about teaching Students enthusiastic about teaching innovations and perceive them as innovations and perceive them as

valuable.valuable.Students see the value of the teaching Students see the value of the teaching innovations, but express concern about innovations, but express concern about

non-alignment with the assessment.non-alignment with the assessment.

Students don’t see the purpose of the Students don’t see the purpose of the teaching innovations and are very teaching innovations and are very focused on assessment demands.focused on assessment demands.

ConclusionConclusionEven though the majority of Even though the majority of students were very positive students were very positive

about the teaching about the teaching innovations, this study innovations, this study

highlights the need for a highlights the need for a systemic view on teaching systemic view on teaching

innovations.innovations.““Attempts to enhance teaching need to Attempts to enhance teaching need to

address the system as a whole, not address the system as a whole, not simply add ‘good’ components, such as simply add ‘good’ components, such as a new curriculum or methods.” [Biggs, a new curriculum or methods.” [Biggs,

1996]1996]

Things to think Things to think about…about…•Alignment of teaching Alignment of teaching

practices and assessment.practices and assessment.•Students are accustomed to Students are accustomed to passive, transmission passive, transmission approaches to teaching approaches to teaching (school, university) – feel (school, university) – feel challenged.challenged.•Explicit, shared agreement in Explicit, shared agreement in dept on what the purpose on dept on what the purpose on an introductory course should an introductory course should be.be.

Thank you Thank you

If you are planning for a year, If you are planning for a year, sow rice.sow rice.

If you are planning for a If you are planning for a decade, plant trees.decade, plant trees.

If you are planning for a If you are planning for a lifetime, educate people.lifetime, educate people.

DiversityDiversity

““A woman without her man A woman without her man is nothing.”is nothing.”

““A woman, without her A woman, without her man, is nothing.”man, is nothing.”

““A woman: without her, A woman: without her, man is nothing.”man is nothing.”

Case 1Case 1

Case 2Case 2

Below you see two cases: a Below you see two cases: a

physics student pulling or physics student pulling or pushing a sled with a force pushing a sled with a force FF which is applied at an angle which is applied at an angle . In which case is the . In which case is the normal force greater?normal force greater?

A. case 1A. case 1

B. case 2B. case 2

C. it’s the same for bothC. it’s the same for both

D. depends on the magnitude of the D. depends on the magnitude of the force force FF

E. depends on the ice surfaceE. depends on the ice surface

Flash cardsFlash cards