Actively Engaging Students in Learning Physics Using the KWL Method
Date of Graduation
Summer 2001
Degree
Master of Science in Materials Science
Department
Physics, Astronomy, and Materials Science
Committee Chair
Kandiah Manivannan
Abstract
The KWL method is a teaching method that actively engages students in the learning process. The method involves finding out what the students Know, what they Want to know, and what they have Learned. In this work, the KWL method was used to teach laboratory sections of the introductory algebra-based physics courses. The gain in the conceptual understanding of the students in sections that used KWL method was compared with the gain of the students in control sections that did not use this method. A nationally validated mechanics concept test (n=256), a basic skills test (n=127), and a vector diagnostic test (n=145) were administered to students in order to evaluate their understanding. Measurable improvements were found on the vector diagnostic instrument in the classes where the KWL method was used. The basic skills and the mechanics tests also showed improvement in the KWL groups. The findings show that the KWL method was a simple technique that improved the effectiveness of physics teaching.
Subject Categories
Materials Science and Engineering
Copyright
© Cheryl Schaefer
Recommended Citation
Schaefer, Cheryl, "Actively Engaging Students in Learning Physics Using the KWL Method" (2001). MSU Graduate Theses. 2437.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/2437
Dissertation/Thesis
