Interactive Modern Physics Worksheets Methodology and Assessment

Ken Podolak; Jordyn Danforth

Ken Podolak
Jordyn Danforth

Abstract

There are a variety of teaching tools available for use in introductory modern physics classrooms. Determining which
teaching tool students support can help the teacher structure classroom instruction to include more effective teaching tools.
Student participants were surveyed at the end of four separate semesters after using different teaching tools throughout the
semester. They were asked to rate which teaching tools they found to be most effective in aiding their understanding of the
course material and provide comment where necessary. Students on a “least effective” to “most effective” scale rated each
teaching tool. This scale was transferred into a number scale with 1 being “least effective” and 5 being “most effective.”
Through use of the quantitative and qualitative analysis, it was determined that students strongly prefer the use of in-class
worksheets. The normalized data shows that 68% of students strongly favored the worksheets over textbooks (29%) and
homework (32%). Students gave positive comments that the in-class worksheets allowed for teacher-student interaction and
guided learning.

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