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Developing multi-representational problem solving skills in large, mixed-ability physics classes
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 135-139).
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| Main Author: | |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Department of Physics
2014
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| _version_ | 1867614286801534976 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Leigh, Gregor |
| author2 | Buffler, Andy |
| author_browse | Buffler, Andy Leigh, Gregor |
| author_facet | Buffler, Andy Leigh, Gregor |
| author_sort | Leigh, Gregor |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 135-139). |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/6533 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:49:38.276Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| publishDateRange | 2014 |
| publishDateSort | 2014 |
| publisher | Department of Physics |
| publisherStr | Department of Physics |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/6533 Developing multi-representational problem solving skills in large, mixed-ability physics classes Leigh, Gregor Buffler, Andy Physics Includes bibliographical references (leaves 135-139). First time entering students at South African technikons (even those enrolling for science courses) are typically characterised by having poor numeracy and problem solving skills coupled with poor attitudes towards learning physics. Their secondary education experience of physics has left them with little fondness or appreciation for the subject, which they perceive as a purely formula-driven, mathematical discipline with little or no connection to either their everyday experiences or their future careers.Poor first year pass rates at technikons are but one consequence of such attitudes and under-preparedness. Inappropriate epistemologies hamper life-long learning by precluding students from developing conceptual mastery and from assimilating valuable generic skills such as problem solving. To address this situation, and the declining pass rates among Physics 1 students at the Cape Technikon, a new, research-based teaching strategy was introduced for the first year physics course in which multi-representational problem solving approaches were explicitly developed in order to provide an underlying foundation for the physics. It was found that more students were able to make appropriate use of the mathematical formulae needed to numerically solve a physics question after progressing through a series of non-mathematical representations of the particular problem situation. It was found that, as students’ confidence improved, so too did their attitudes towards the subject. Post course testing showed a shift towards a more positive view of learning physics which also manifested itself in a higher pass rate in the Physics 1 course. 2014-08-13T20:08:13Z 2014-08-13T20:08:13Z 2004 Master Thesis Masters MSc http://hdl.handle.net/11427/6533 eng application/pdf Department of Physics Faculty of Science University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Physics Leigh, Gregor Developing multi-representational problem solving skills in large, mixed-ability physics classes |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | Developing multi-representational problem solving skills in large, mixed-ability physics classes |
| title_full | Developing multi-representational problem solving skills in large, mixed-ability physics classes |
| title_fullStr | Developing multi-representational problem solving skills in large, mixed-ability physics classes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Developing multi-representational problem solving skills in large, mixed-ability physics classes |
| title_short | Developing multi-representational problem solving skills in large, mixed-ability physics classes |
| title_sort | developing multi representational problem solving skills in large mixed ability physics classes |
| topic | Physics |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/6533 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT leighgregor developingmultirepresentationalproblemsolvingskillsinlargemixedabilityphysicsclasses |