Re: [Phys-l] lab assessment

["Robert Cohen" <Robert.Cohen@po-box.esu.edu>]

I know this has been discussed several times before on this list, but it
seems the poor performance by "scientists" on some of the questions
might be due in part to how the word "precision" is interpreted.  The
test seems to interpret precision as being equivalent to resolution
whereas the scientists (and maybe the students) might be interpreting it
to mean something else.

----------------------------------------------------------
Robert A. Cohen, Department of Physics, East Stroudsburg University 
570.422.3428   rcohen@po-box.esu.edu    http://www.esu.edu/~bbq 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu 
> [mailto:phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf 
> Of Robert Beichner
> Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 12:19 PM
> To: phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
> Subject: Re: [Phys-l] lab assessment
>
> Kyle,
>
> Our test info page mentions the measurement and uncertainty 
> test developed by Duane Deardorff. He has put the test and 
> additional info at 
> <http://www.physics.unc.edu/%7Edeardorf/uncertainty/index.html>.
>
> Bob Beichner
> NCSU
>
>
> On Sep 30, 2008, at 12:00 PM, Kyle Forinash wrote:
> > Hi;
> >
> > Can anyone point me to a [simple] pre/post test that assesses 
> > laboratory/data analysis skills? The only think I see on 
> the NC State 
> > assessment web site (http://www.ncsu.edu/per/TestInfo.html)
> > that might apply is kinematic graphs but I think this is 
> more narrow 
> > than what I was looking for.
> >
> > Specifically (as part of a campus wide assessment program for 
> > accreditation purposes) some time ago we set up the 
> following general 
> > laboratory goals for all of the natural sciences and (naturally 
> > enough) don't have the foggiest clue how to assess them.
> > ------------------------
> > [Students should:]
> > 1. Understand the role of empirical data in establishing scientific 
> > knowledge.
> >    Students explore how data are collected and combined to reach a 
> > scientific conclusion. In lab they design and execute 
> experiments to 
> > obtain empirical scientific data. Specifically students:
> > 	a) Participate in laboratory work.
> >   	b) Determine if the methods of an experiment are 
> accurate enough to 
> > test the hypothesis (or predictions).
> >    	c) Critique experimental design and procedure.
> >    	d) Identify how the methods could be improved.
> > ----------------------
> >
> > We don't want to spend a lot of time doing this, enough 
> effort to make 
> > it useful to us (and of course the campus wide committee).
> >
> > Anyone have any suggestions?
> >
> > kyle
>
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