Re: [Phys-l] The Impact of Concept Inventories On Physics Education and It's Relevance For Engineering Education (Richard Hake)

[Bill <wreitz@neo.rr.com>]

Jim,

I'm not Dr. Hake and I understand that you are trying to get his opinion 
but I have taught PLTW for 4 years and physics for 38.  Here are my 
thoughts based on that experience:

PLTW is not a bunch of memorization & survival of the fittest - nor is 
it IE as Dr. Hake would define it. It is problem-based, students spend 
80-90% of their time working on projects individually and in small 
groups. There are no concept inventories. I've not seen many (any?) 
engineering or design concept inventories available to use at any level, 
HS or college.

Since your school offers PLTW, you know PLTW is not a physics course. 
One course, Principles of Engineering covers many topics seen in physics 
(energy, projectile motion, torque and statics). I tried to insert 
things like PHet simulations and Ranking tasks but there is not much 
room in the required PLTW curriculum. I think PLTW has much to offer, 
but it needs a little more -  I hate to use the word - rigor. I retired 
before I could add some PER and EER activities I would have liked to use.

PLTW carries much weight and history with it as a nation-wide HS 
engineering program. I've had more students get college credit for their 
engineering major from PLTW than did from AP Physics.  It is a good 
starting point. I think it can be improved on and would like to see 
people create a more IE version. I do not see other well known HS 
engineering efforts any more IE oriented.

I've seen some effort in engineering education circles to create a body 
of Engineering Education Research. I have a former colleague working in 
EER at Ohio State, having gotten her PhD in PER.  It would be nice to 
learn about any engineering and/or design concept inventory efforts.

Bill Reitz
Hoover HS retired
North Canton, OH

On 9/25/2011 9:31 PM, James Cibulka wrote:
> So, Dr. Hake, I have read another paper from you . . .  but what can you tell me about high school engineering programs like Project Lead the Way?  Are they on the side of IE?  Do they use concept inventories or is it just a bunch of memorization and survival of the fittest?
>
> Jim Cibulka
> Kirkwood High School
> Kirkwood, MO
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