Conveners
W3-1 Teaching Physics to a Wider Audience (DPE/CEWIP) | Enseigner la physique à un auditoire plus vaste (DEP/CEFEP)
- Shohini Ghose (Wilfrid Laurier University)
A persistent gender gap in physics—particularly in both conceptual understanding and retention in programs—has concerned educators and policy makers for decades. Though women make up the majority of undergraduate students, they represent only 20% of physics undergraduates. We found that in a study of 790 students from our institution, physics identity plays a significant role, distinct from...
Research into education strategies has repeatedly shown that actively engaging students results in stronger learning of core concepts (Korff, 2016). Calls to include experiential, inquiry-based strategies, particularly in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education have been persistent (Zhang, 2016). Many institutions are searching for ways to accomplish this, and research...
Several provinces have now included quantum mechanics in their physics curriculum for grades 11 and 12. While certainly well intended, this is expected to cause problems due to the students’ lack of mathematical proficiency, the fact that many physics teachers do not have a physics background, and the inadequate selection of specific topics that are suggested in the curriculum.
In this talk,...
In order to create a scientifically literate society, and to keep up with the rapid pace of technological change around the world, more students must be encouraged to pursue degrees in physics and related fields (President’s Council of Advisors, 2012). This study invited students taking introductory physics at a university in Atlantic Canada to participate in an anonymous, mainly short answer...
The fourth edition of the Canadian Conference for
Undergraduate Women in Physics (CUWiP) series was held at McMaster
University on 13-15 January 2017. A conference report for this 2017
edition will be presented along with historical statistics from the past
conferences held in Canada so far. The second part of this talk
will report on the developing partnership between CAP and the...
