Education Research Projects - Physics and Astronomy
PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY FACULTY AND
STUDENT RESEARCH PROJECTS
- John Thompson – Investigating Student Understanding of Physics
- Michael Wittmann – Physics Education Research
- Elizabeth Burroughs – An Evaluation of the Astrobiology Curriculum Pilot
- Bhupendra Nagpure – An Inquiry Based High School Curriculum Unit in Geometrical Optics
- David Nelson – Effect of a Concentrated In-Service Elementary Teacher Force and Motion Workshop
FACULTY RESEARCH
Investigating Student Understanding of Physics – My research involves investigating student understanding, mainly conceptual understanding, of specific topics in physics. I am interested in students at all levels of science background, ranging from future K-12 teachers to students in introductory courses to advanced undergraduates and graduate students. The physics topics I am currently working on include velocity and acceleration in two-dimensions, and sound. I am beginning to explore thermodynamics, as well as laboratory instruction in general.
for more info, click here.
John Thompson
Associate Professor, Physics & Astronomy
Cooperating Assistant Professor, College of Education and Human Development,
Co-Director of the Physics Education Research Laboratory
223 Bennett Hall
(207)581-1030
Thompson Web Page
Physics Education Research – My work in physics education research focuses on the modeling of student learning of physics. Presently, I am investigating student reasoning about quantum physics and advanced mechanics and the role of everyday knowledge in understanding highly abstract and seemingly counter-intuitive ideas.
for more info, click here.
Dr. Michael C. Wittmann
Associate Professor, Physics & Astronomy
Cooperating Associate Professor, College of Education and Human Development,
Co-Director of the Physics Education Research Laboratory
222 Bennett Hall
(207)581-1237
Wittmann Web page
CURRENT STUDENT RESEARCH
PAST STUDENT RESEARCH
An Evaluation of the Astrobiology Curriculum Pilot
By Elizabeth Burroughs
Susan McKay, Advisor
An Evaluation of the Astrobiology Curriculum Pilot -Astrobiology: An Integrated Science Approach is a curriculum designed to engage students in science by offering a series of inquiry-based activities with the theme of how we search for life in the universe. Students explore diverse standards-based concepts in chemistry, physics, biology, Earth and space science. The University of Maine has been involved in designing and implementing a pilot study of this curriculum. The goals of the pilot are to determine how effective and how motivating the curriculum is for Maine high school and middle school students when compared to traditional science classes. In this talk, I will present the results of our data analyses so far, and talk about potential directions for this project.
An Inquiry Based High School Curriculum Unit in Geometrical Optics
In Spring 2007, as part of my Master of Science in Teaching program, I undertook a curriculum design course along with a full time microscopy research at the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor Maine. This poster presents a 5- day long inquiry-based curriculum unit in geometrical optics for high school students. I produced this unit as part of my class incorporating my ongoing research experiences with how science is learned in the cutting
edge laboratories.
Bhupendra Nagpure
(MST in Physics, August 2008)
Molly Schauffler
Climate Change Institute
John Thompson
Physics & Astronomy
Effect of a Concentrated In-Service Elementary Teacher Force and Motion Workshop
David Nelson
(MST in Physics, August 2006)
ADVISOR: John Thompson
Physics & Astronomy