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Undergraduate Student Agreement With Reformed Introductory Physics Classes

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Date Issued:
2018
Abstract/Description:
In this study, I investigate student (")buy-in("), defined as students' proper understanding of and agreement with the class format, for introductory studio physics classes that incorporate lectures, labs, and group problem-solving activities into one interactive environment. I also investigate the ways in which instructors try to gain student buy-in to their class. Research has shown that student resistance to reformed instruction is a barrier to an instructor's use of research-based instructional strategies that are common to the studio class. Expectancy value theory suggests that by gaining student buy-in to the reformed class format, student resistance will decrease thus allowing a more effective class. I created a survey to measure student agreement with their class and another survey to determine the strategies that instructors use to gain student buy-in. I describe the responses to the surveys and use hierarchical models to determine if student agreement predicts their performance in the class and if the instructor strategies have an effect on student agreement. To triangulate these findings, I also interviewed instructors and students. From the surveys, I found that students disagree with the time spent lecturing and the importance and time spent reading outside of class. This is important because student agreement with the time spent in class predicts favorable attitudes about physics and their agreement with the time spent outside of class predicts a higher expected final grade. From the interviews, I discovered that both instructors and students believe that using evidence to justify the class format would be an effective strategy to gain agreement. However, few instructors used evidence due to a lack of prepared materials. Future work should develop materials to support instructors in presenting evidence about studio's effectiveness and investigate the impact on student buy-in and other outcomes.
Title: Undergraduate Student Agreement With Reformed Introductory Physics Classes.
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Name(s): Wilcox, Matthew, Author
Chini, Jackie, Committee Chair
Del Barco, Enrique, Committee Member
Saitta, Erin, Committee Member
Sivo, Stephen, Committee Member
University of Central Florida, Degree Grantor
Type of Resource: text
Date Issued: 2018
Publisher: University of Central Florida
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: In this study, I investigate student (")buy-in("), defined as students' proper understanding of and agreement with the class format, for introductory studio physics classes that incorporate lectures, labs, and group problem-solving activities into one interactive environment. I also investigate the ways in which instructors try to gain student buy-in to their class. Research has shown that student resistance to reformed instruction is a barrier to an instructor's use of research-based instructional strategies that are common to the studio class. Expectancy value theory suggests that by gaining student buy-in to the reformed class format, student resistance will decrease thus allowing a more effective class. I created a survey to measure student agreement with their class and another survey to determine the strategies that instructors use to gain student buy-in. I describe the responses to the surveys and use hierarchical models to determine if student agreement predicts their performance in the class and if the instructor strategies have an effect on student agreement. To triangulate these findings, I also interviewed instructors and students. From the surveys, I found that students disagree with the time spent lecturing and the importance and time spent reading outside of class. This is important because student agreement with the time spent in class predicts favorable attitudes about physics and their agreement with the time spent outside of class predicts a higher expected final grade. From the interviews, I discovered that both instructors and students believe that using evidence to justify the class format would be an effective strategy to gain agreement. However, few instructors used evidence due to a lack of prepared materials. Future work should develop materials to support instructors in presenting evidence about studio's effectiveness and investigate the impact on student buy-in and other outcomes.
Identifier: CFE0007265 (IID), ucf:52197 (fedora)
Note(s): 2018-08-01
Ph.D.
Sciences, Physics
Doctoral
This record was generated from author submitted information.
Subject(s): Student Buy-in -- Student Agreement -- Studio Physics -- Instructional Practices
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007265
Restrictions on Access: public 2018-08-15
Host Institution: UCF

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