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Identifying And Addressing Specific Student Difficulties In Advanced Thermal Physics, Trevor I. Smith
Identifying And Addressing Specific Student Difficulties In Advanced Thermal Physics, Trevor I. Smith
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
As part of an ongoing multi-university research study on student understanding of concepts in thermal physics at the upper division, I identified several student difficulties with topics related to heat engines (especially the Carnot cycle), as well as difficulties related to the Boltzmann factor. In an effort to address these difficulties, I developed two guided-inquiry worksheet activities (a.k.a. tutorials) for use in advanced undergraduate thermal physics courses. Both tutorials seek to improve student understanding of the utility and physical background of a particular mathematical expression. One tutorial focuses on a derivation of Carnot's theorem regarding the limit on thermodynamic efficiency, …
Do Relationships With Helpful And Not-Helpful Teachers Make A Difference? Perspectives From Nine At-Risk Adolescents, Emanuel Pariser
Do Relationships With Helpful And Not-Helpful Teachers Make A Difference? Perspectives From Nine At-Risk Adolescents, Emanuel Pariser
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Every year in the United States close to 25% of students fail to graduate with the classmates with whom they began high school. The economic, social and personal impact of not completing high school is staggering on the individual and society. The literature fails to adequately document relational factors in the classroom that can alter the academic trajectory of at-risk students. This dissertation explores how nine at-risk adolescents view the impact of relationships with helpful and not-helpful teachers on their academic success. My three research questions were: (a) what qualities do at-risk students attribute to helpful and not-helpful teachers; (b) …