Colorado PhysTEC project leader Valerie Otero helps a Learning Assistant with an experiment during the PTEC Learning Assistant Workshop on October 24-25, 2007.

 

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University of Colorado, Boulder Project Report 2007

Assessment

A. Concept Exam Data for Calculus-based Introductory Physics

FMCE DATA for 1st semester Introductory Calculus-based Physics
Semester	N	Pretest (%) ~+/-1%	Posttest (%) ~+/-1-2%	Ave normalized gain ~+/-.02	Gain of averages
Sp 2004	335	28.2	73.9	.66	.64
Fa 2004 **	392	33.2	69.0	.59	.54
Sp 2005 *	213	28.4	58.5	.45	.42
Fa 2005 *	293	32.1	58.3	.42	.39
Sp 2006	278	2635	59.5	.47	.45
Fa 2006	331	33.2	67.1	.53	.51
Sp 2007	363	28.6	61.7	.49	.46

N is the number of matched students.
 * means no Tutorials (and no LAs): these had traditional recitations
** means no Tutorials (and no LAs) - but they utilized small-group recitations centered on research-based workbook materials.
All the rest used UW Tutorials and LAs. 

 

BEMA Data for 2nd semester Introductory Calculus-based Physics
Semester	N	Pretest (%) ~ +/-1%	Posttest (%) ~ +/- 1-2%	Ave normalized gain ~ +/- .02
Fa 2004	319	26.2	58.9	.44
Sp 2005	232	27.4	58.7	.43
Fa 2005	325	25.2	49.5	.33
Sp 2006	196	26.4	53.4	.37
Fa 2006	351	26.3	55.7	.40
Sp 2009	260	N/A	52.8	N/A

N is the number of matched students.

B. Concept Exam Data for Learning Assistants

Mechanics (Calc-based) FCME Data for LAs
Semester	Number LAs	Pre-Ave	Post Ave	Gain of Ave
Sp06	5	98.3	100	1.0
Fa06	7	88.7	98.5	0.87
Sp07	7	87.4	94.8	.59

(No LAs were used in this course for the 3 semesters preceding the above, no data for before) 
Learning Assistant data only (not all matched - typically missing 1student for pre and/or post)

 

E&M: Calc-based: BEMA Data for LAs
Semester	Number LAs	Pre-Ave	Post Ave	Gain of Ave
Fa04	8	.54	.73	.42
Sp05	6	.75	.9	.61
Fa05	8	.66	.76	.31
Sp06	5	.73	.81	.31
Fa06	6	.64	.71	.19
Sp07	4	.71	.80	.31

Learning Assistant data (not all matched, but most are matched)

C. Upper Division Learning Retention

Below we see evidence that the Tutorial experience in freshman year translates to significantly improved BEMA scores at the upper division level, and that being an LA moves scores up to levels comparable to what we measure for incoming graduate Teaching assistants whose average BEMA score (before teaching) is 80 +/- 4% (N=15)     

D. Attitudes and Beliefs of Future Teachers

The Colorado Learning Attitudes About Science Survey (CLASS) was administered to 395 PET and Physical Science and Everyday Thinking students from 10 different colleges and universities with 12 different instructors. Aggregate results show an average 9% gain in PET and PSET courses compared to average gains of -6.1% to +1.8% found in other physical science courses designed especially for elementary teachers.