11 tests are available on the Website of the School of Physics and
Materials Engineering, Monash University, Australia http://www.spme.monash.edu.au/community/tests.html
These Tests are, in part, directed towards unearthing and attempting
to correct some of the many preconceptions/misconceptions which
students bring to their initial studies of Physics.
The tests are:
1 The Nature of Light
2 Images and Plane Mirrors
3 Images and Curved Mirrors
4 Images and Lenses
5 MovementBasic Ideas
6 Velocity and Acceleration
7 Vectors
8 Kinematics and Forces
9 Newtons Laws
10 The Nature of Heat
11 The Transfer of Heat
The tests are in Word 97 format (about 3.9MB in all) ready for
downloading and subsequent printing (preferably double-sided) and
distribution to students. From this point onwards the tests can be
self-administered by the students. The tests are "take home" and can
be done at the students convenience as he or she comes to the
appropriate section in class
The students work through the questions on the left hand
(even-numbered) pages, keeping the right hand (odd-numbered) pages
covered and at various stages check their responses against the
answers on the right hand pages which, in addition to giving the
correct answer, has a commentary on wrong answers, hopefully
initiating remediation of an unearthed misconception. In addition to
the questions and answers there are a few instructional sidelights
and interludes.
Alternatively students may choose to download from this Website, in
which case they might, in the interests of economy and the forests,
choose to print only the even-numbered (question) pages and do their
answer checking on screen.
Teachers are, of course, able to edit the tests in any way they think
fit excising any material perceived as extraneous or over-kill.
Bill Rachinger,
School of Physics and Materials Engineering,
Monash University, P.O.27, Vic 3800 Australia