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Re: [Phys-L] Evaluation tests

Right, but still I'd be tempted to look at the data to see if, say, the average of their grades in chemistry and algebra did a better or worse job predicting their results in physics than the test you use. After all, while physics is different than either chemistry or algebra, it is also different than the arithmetic class where we hope they would have learned about fractions.

On 12/17/2013 5:19 PM, Anthony Lapinski wrote:
I'm at a private school and physics is an elective. Many are encouraged to
take physics to have all three foundation courses for college. To me, the
"placement" test is a useful thing. I've had juniors do poorly on it, drop
physics, and take physics again as seniors -- and do very well.

And as I've said before, physics is unlike any course a student will
ever take. It requires a different way of thinking, and some kids
simply don't have the proper skills to do well. And "working hard"
is sometimes not enough.


Phys-L@Phys-L.org writes:
On 12/17/2013 4:39 PM, Ze'ev Wurman wrote:
And remember what started this thread. It is NOT ABOUT SOLVING THE
PROBLEM, IT IS ABOUT THE PREDICTIVE POWER OF THE PROBLEM.

Taking that to heart, I wonder if these tests are worth giving. If the
goal is to do a service to students who sign up but with little chance
of earning a c or better, I suspect that there is a lot of information
available with more predictive power: grades in previous science
classes, high school gpa, even math SAT score might do a better job than
what has been proposed so far. But to find out, you would have to check
the data.

But I am not sure that is our role to make these predictions. If a
student has a destination in mind and physics is one of the requirements
along the way, then despite what my (admittedly fuzzy) prediction model
would say, my first instinct is to say come on in and be prepared to
work hard.
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_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@phys-l.org
http://www.phys-l.org/mailman/listinfo/phys-l