Conceptual Resources for Understanding Introductory Physics
Schools or Programs: Educational Studies, Physical Sciences, Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM)
Location(s): UW Bothell
Quarter(s): Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter
Includes the quarter to apply or participate.
Hours per Week: 4hrs - 9hrs
Estimated weekly effort
Academic Credit: Student's choice
Class enrollment is required or credits earned
Compensation: Academic credit, Hourly pay, No compensation or volunteer position
Work will contribute to grant-funded research to understand students’ ideas about kinematics, electric circuits, heat and temperature, and linear momentum.
Student Outcomes
- Gain experience in physics education research
- Collaborate with a multi-institutional team of researchers (including faculty, postdocs, and graduate students)
- Deepen understanding of introductory physics and how students learn it
- Gain skills in conducting a literature review
Student Qualifications
- Has completed a full course in introductory physics (high school or university).
- Makes realistic plans for independent work and communicates clearly if plans need to be renegotiated
- Is interested in developing curiosity about students’ ideas and passion for identifying what is wonderful about student thinking
- Is willing to work collaboratively and offer constructive feedback
Student Responsibilities
- Conduct a literature review to identify learners’ ideas about a specific physics topic (either kinematics, electric circuits, heat, temperature, or linear momentum).
- Use students’ written responses to physics questions to identify some of the wonderful ideas that students are using to reason about kinematics, electric circuits, heat and temperature, and linear momentum.
- Construct coding schemes based on student responses, and collaboratively code written work.
- Synthesize research findings in presentations and research papers.
- Participate in research meetings with project team.4-year project; preference to students who anticipate a commitment of at least one academic year.
Collaborators
Amy Robertson (Seattle Pacific University), Paula Heron (UW-Seattle)
Resources and additional content
Both credit-based and paid research opportunities are available.