PERC 2013 Abstract Detail Page
Previous Page | New Search | Browse All
| Abstract Title: | A Case Study in Leveraging Biology Experiences in Physics |
|---|---|
| Abstract: | When we discuss courses designed to be interdisciplinary, such as our course in Introductory Physics for Life Science (IPLS) majors, we often focus on what students can gain from taking a course (physics) outside their chosen discipline (biology). Rarely do we consider what advantages might be gained from students' experience with biology in learning physics. At the University of Maryland we have designed an introductory physics course that leverages students' biology experiences in an authentic interdisciplinary manner. In this presentation, we will examine case study data of a student who initially describes herself as hating physics. We will look at interview data with her reflecting on her experiences within our yearlong IPLS course. We will explore how her prior experiences as a biology student and as a student in this interdisciplinary classroom came to influence her evolving relationship with physics and the perceived connections between the disciplines. |
| Abstract Type: | Contributed Poster Presentation |
Author/Organizer Information | |
| Primary Contact: |
Vashti Sawtelle University of Maryland, College Park 082 Regents Drive College Park, MD 20742-4111 Phone: 301-405-6179 |
| Co-Author(s) and Co-Presenter(s) |
Chandra Turpen, University of Maryland, College Park Julia Svoboda Gouvea, University of California, Davis Benjamin W. Dreyfus, University of Maryland, College Park Benjamin D. Geller, University of Maryland, College Park |
