28th Annual Student Research Conference
Fostering Further Study by Putting Physics First
Pierce A. Langford
Dr. Ian Lindevald and Dr. Vayujeet Gokhale, Faculty Mentors
'Physics First' is a program wherein high school students take physics their freshman year, and continue on to chemistry and biology in that order. We present what correlations exist between 'Physics First' programs and later physics course enrollments, and if there is any correlation between 'Physics First' programs and standardized test achievement. We decided upon correlations based on an analysis of data collected by the American Institute of Physics and data collected by the ACT for national and state test scores. 'Physics First' does have a correlation with continued physics study in high school. A correlation between 'Physics First' and college enrollments exists, but the lag time between the introduction of 'Physics First' and the enrollment increase is conspicuously short. No correlation can currently be made between 'Physics First' programs and standardized test achievement because standardized test participation was inconsistent.
Keywords: 'Physics First', Physics Education
Topic(s):Physics
Education
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 414-3
Location: MG 1096
Time: 3:00