The Numbers Speak: Physics First Supports Math Performance

• Autores: Howard M. Glasser
• Localización: The Physics Teacher, ISSN 0031-921X, Vol. 50, Nº. 1, 2012, pág. 53
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • More schools in the United States have begun teaching physics to ninth-graders, but there continues to be limited evidence that such a change benefits students.1�2 Many arguments in favor of Physics First and the inverted sequence of physics-chemistry-biology3�6 are based more on the intellectual logic of the sequence than on measured outcomes. Paul Lulai raised a similar concern in the November 2005 edition of The Physics Teacher, calling for �non-anecdotal evidence� that such a curricular change leads to various outcomes including �improved scores on standardized tests� and �improved mathematics understanding and achievement.�2 This paper describes a study of a Physics First program at one school that suggests that this change to freshman physics positively impacted students' mathematical performance on standardized tests.