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Session:
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PER: Developing and Evaluating Research-Based Instruction
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Paper Type:
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Contributed
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Title:
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Using Standardized Tests as Predictors in Advanced Physics Classes
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Meeting:
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123rd AAPT National Meeting: Rochester, NY |
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Location:
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Highland C, Convention Ctr. |
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Date:
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7/24/01 |
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Time:
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1:30PM
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Author:
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Michael C. Wittmann, Univ. of Maine
207-581-1237, wittmann@umit.maine.edu
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Co-Author(s):
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None
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Abstract:
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Standardized tests (the Force Concept Inventory, Force and Motion Concept Evaluation (FMCE), Maryland Physics Expectations Survey (MPEX), etc.) have been used to analyze instruction at the introductory physics level. What do these tests tell us about students in advanced physics courses? I taught a sophomore-level mechanics class for physics majors in which students were given the FMCE and MPEX before and after all instruction. In a small class such as mine, students can be evaluated on an individual basis. I will focus on those students who show interesting tendencies (such as expert-like attitudes but weak physics skills, or attitudes seemingly unfavorable to the learning of physics but high scores on the conceptual test) and how these tendencies were observable (or not) during the semester. I will also describe how such knowledge about each individual student affected my teaching.
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Footnotes:
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None
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