Jennifer Blue – Student Involvement in
Research
Please contact me at bluejm@muohio.edu if you are interested in
doing research in physics education at
Current
Students:
Mark Rothmayer. MS in Physics
expected 2008
Mark is using his background in both physics and psychology to develop a new way of looking at the thought processes of physics novices and experts. He is using cognitive work analysis to develop a matrix that represents dynamics, with whole-part relationships on one axis and functional relationships on the other. He has developed a survey to assess how students’ beliefs compare with the content of the matrix he has developed. In addition, he is interviewing students and professors, having them verbalize their thought processes as they solve problems. He is also having them construct a concept map of physics in order to examine the validity of the matrix and comparing it to the knowledge structures of novices and experts.
Adam Maple: BA in Physics expected 2008
Adam is conducting a survey of faculty who require their students to take the introductory physics laboratory course to see what lab content and form they prefer. He is also looking at reasons that students like and dislike particular laboratory activities.
Alumni:
Keith Rusnak. BS in Teacher
Education 2007
Currently teaching physics at
Keith had two projects. As an Undergraduate Summer Scholar, he upgraded a physics lab manual. Then, as part of a project supported by the Assessment Office, he analyzed student lab reports for evidence of critical thinking.
Joshua Jacob. BA in Physics 2006
Currently a field agent for the Georgia Department of Agriculture
For his research capstone, Josh surveyed students in an introductory physics class about group work and about their comfort with the experiments in the course.