Course redesign utilizing Mastering Physics increases student success
Pearson | October 29, 2021 in Meaningful Outcomes
by Pearson
Course redesign incorporating Mastering Physics contributes to student success
Professor Sarah Formica from the University of North Georgia was looking for a way to curb cheating and increase student success in her Principles of Physics I course, and as part of that redesign she adopted Mastering™ Physics and Learning Catalytics™. Through this 10-year redesign the following was noted:
- FCI normalized gains were significantly higher for students taking the flipped format with Mastering Physics.
- The Mastering homework implementation was designed to discourage students from cheating and to motivate them to do extra practice without looking up solutions.
- The instructor used Learning Catalytics to evaluate understanding and determine student misconceptions during class.
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Why did Professor Sarah Formica redesign her course?
Formica has taught all levels of physics and has found that when students get to upper-level courses, they often cannot remember fundamental concepts, are not able to extract meaning and apply what was taught in the early courses, tend to struggle to write out full solutions and often cheat on homework.
Because research shows lecture is a passive activity, she thought a flipped model would be a way to improve success in her course through active learning. Part of that redesign included adopting Mastering Physics.
What were the major changes during the redesign?
Formica’s redesign of the Principles of Physics course took place over a 10-year period. As she made changes, she evaluated the effectiveness and impact, and then made adjustments accordingly. Adjustments included the following:
- Add a pre-class warm-up assignment.
- Adopt pre-lecture videos and Mastering Physics in 2014, of which MP resulted in adopting Learning Catalytics.
- Students take the Force Concept Inventory (FCI) pre- and post-tests implemented in 2017.
By Spring 2018, her course comprised of the following assignments and assessments:
- Quizzes and exams for course credit including a daily in-class quiz, weekly in-class quiz, midterm exam, and final exam.
- Required homework including textbook readings, discussions, and Mastering Physics.
- Extra credit homework including two types of Mastering pre-lecture videos (conceptual and pause-and-predict questions), Mastering Physics Dynamic Study Modules (DSMs), Learning Catalytics, Mastering Tutorials, and a Mastering practice quiz.
Were students successful?
All students taking this course at UNG take the pre- and post-FCI, a 30-minute, multiple-choice, national standardized test. Formica compared her Principles of Physics I normalized gains to another section of Principles of Physics I (not using MP) at UNG and students in the algebra-based physics course, which showed the following:
- The students in Formica’s section from 2015 through 2018 had significantly higher normalized gains than the other groups in this analysis.
Did students like using Mastering Physics?
Formica has received positive feedback from students about the different activities in the course and the course redesign as a whole:
- Dynamic Study Modules helped them learn course concepts.
- They enjoyed the in-class activities using Learning Catalytics.
- The course organization helped them know what to expect and when to expect it.
Learn more about how Mastering Physics could benefit your course
