Engineering Student's Beliefs, Attitudes, and Academic Performance in a Physics (Electricity and Magnet

Written by Ahmad Dzohir bin Ariffin

Wednesday, 01 September 2010 02:12 - Last Updated Wednesday, 01 September 2010 02:14

{xtypo_info}Abstract{/xtypo_info}

Research in physics education has identified a variety of attitudes and beliefs that contribute
to higher gains in learning. The study presents a profile of the attitudes and beliefs of
Engineering students towards their Physics (Electricity and Magnetism) course. The students
posted high agreement with expert's beliefs in the clusters of CLASS relating to Real World
Connections, Problem-Solving Confidence, and Sense-Making / Effort. Using the profile
obtained from the Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey (CLASS) and the grades
that the students obtained in the Physics course they took, the relationship between the beliefs
they held and their academic performance is presented. Analysis of the beliefs profile of the
students in the top quartile and the beliefs profile of the students who belong to the bottom
quartile revealed a significant difference in the beliefs profile of the two groups. Students in the
top quartile reported a more expert-like thinking in the CLASS dimensions of learning,
suggesting that students who approach learning Physics with a more favorable belief structure
are more likely to achieve higher learning gains. The results of the correlation analysis reveal
that providing opportunities for students to make sense of the information given to them leads to
a deeper appreciation and interest in the subject matter and allows them to connect their
real-world experiences with concepts and ideas learned in their Physics class. Meaningful
learning in a Physics class is achieved when students are able to make sense of the information
given to them, leading them to exert the effort required of them. This eventually empowers them
to create connections and relationships among and between the ideas they learned.

{xtypo_info}Sub Theme{/xtypo_info}

Educational Research In The Physical and Natural Sciences

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Engineering Student's Beliefs, Attitudes, and Academic Performance in a Physics (Electricity and Magneti

Written by Ahmad Dzohir bin Ariffin

Wednesday, 01 September 2010 02:12 - Last Updated Wednesday, 01 September 2010 02:14

{xtypo_info}Author(s){/xtypo_info}

Voltaire Mallari Mistades

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