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Education Commons

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Selected Works

1993

Science teaching

Articles 1 - 3 of 3

Full-Text Articles in Education

Textbook Treatments And Students’ Understanding Of Acceleration, G Dall’Alba, E Walsh, J Bowden, E Martin, Geoff Masters, P Ramsden, Andrew Stephanou Dec 1992

Textbook Treatments And Students’ Understanding Of Acceleration, G Dall’Alba, E Walsh, J Bowden, E Martin, Geoff Masters, P Ramsden, Andrew Stephanou

Prof Geoff Masters AO

A single science textbook often provides the syllabus for courses at upper secondary and tertiary levels, and may be used as a principal source of information or explanation. The research reported in this article challenges such practices. The ways in which the concept, acceleration, is treated in physics textbooks is compared with understandings of the concept demonstrated by final-year secondary (Year 12) and first-year university students. Some students' understandings are shown to be incomplete in ways that parallel misleading or inaccurate textbook treatments of the concept. In addition to misleading or inaccurate statements, the limitations of some textbook treatments of …


Phenomenographic Research And The Measurement Of Understanding: An Investigation Of Students' Conceptions Of Speed, Distance And Time, P Ramsden, Geoff Masters, Andrew Stephanou, E Walsh, E Martin Dec 1992

Phenomenographic Research And The Measurement Of Understanding: An Investigation Of Students' Conceptions Of Speed, Distance And Time, P Ramsden, Geoff Masters, Andrew Stephanou, E Walsh, E Martin

Prof Geoff Masters AO

No abstract provided.


Physics Students' Understanding Of Relative Speed: A Phenomenographic Study, Eleanor Walsh, Gloria Dall'alba, John Bowden, Elaine Martin, Ference Marton, Geoff Masters, Paul Ramsden, Andrew Stephanou Dec 1992

Physics Students' Understanding Of Relative Speed: A Phenomenographic Study, Eleanor Walsh, Gloria Dall'alba, John Bowden, Elaine Martin, Ference Marton, Geoff Masters, Paul Ramsden, Andrew Stephanou

Prof Geoff Masters AO

It is important that students of physics develop both quantitative and qualitative understanding of physical concepts and principles. Although accuracy and reliability in solving quantitative problems is necessary, a qualitative understanding is required in applying concepts and principles to new problems and in real-life situations. If students are not able to understand what underlies quantitative problem-solving procedures nor interpret the solution in physical terms, it is questionable whether they have developed an adequate understanding of physics. The research reported here is part of a larger phenomenographic study that is concerned with the assessment of physics students' understanding of some basic …