Explains the effect of students' epistemological beliefs on their approach to physics courses. Discusses instructional practices and curricular elements suitable for both college and high school that help students develop substantially more sophisticated beliefs about knowledge and learning as measured by the Maryland Physics Expectations Survey…

Presents the results of the evaluation of a self-paced freshman physics laboratory and its assessment procedures used in the first-year physics course at the University of Adelaide, South Australia. (HM)

Some serious difficulties that students have in understanding physical optics may be due in part to a lack of understanding of light as an electromagnetic wave. Describes the development and use of tutorials designed to address students' conceptual difficulties. (Contains over 15 references.) (Author/WRM)

This article discusses in detail the totally symmetric three-quark karyonic wave functions. The two-body mesonic states are also discussed. A brief review of the experimental efforts to identify the quark model multiplets is given. (Author/SK)

Describes the implementation and impact of a two-semester mastery-oriented astrophysics sequence for upper-level physics/astrophysics majors designed to handle flexibly a wide range of student backgrounds. A Personalized System of Instruction (PSI) format was used fostering frequent student-instructor interaction and role-modeling behavior in…

Describes the MAOF physics education program which is designed to relate large parts of mechanics and electromagnetism to each other via the key concepts of field and potential, while at the same time treat students' conceptual difficulties. Finds that students who studied with the MAOF program significantly improved their physics knowledge…

Data gathered from a national survey mailed to 55 industries employing large numbers of technical personnel support the notion that the employment market should be broadened for persons receiving their academic training in physics. Alternative curriculum strategies and course subjects are suggested for preparing physicists for industrial…

Describes the format and lists course content of a university-based workshop for elementary school teachers who require additional training because they may lack experience in performing experiments, demonstrations, and observations related to physics in elementary science courses. (Author/SK)