The implementation of California Assembly Bill (CAB) 705 has impacted how students enroll into Physics courses. This paralleled anecdotal evidence of a decline in student mathematical abilities. The goal of this research study was to determine the existence of a relationship between CAB 705 and student success in specific Physics courses. This…

Increasing the rigor of courses taken in high school is a crucial part of education policy. However, existing knowledge about high school coursework is outdated. Using data from a recent nationally representative data set, this brief reports results that expand our knowledge base on the relationship between rigorous coursework and postsecondary…

Many students have the opportunity to enroll in elective courses during secondary school and the choices they make about pursuing specific electives may foreshadow future outcomes. The present study utilized a sequential, mixed methods design to investigate the association between students' attitudes toward science, their declared intentions to…

This article discusses the relationship between university and popular classes as an alternative to the privatist tendencies of higher education policies, as well as science and technology, in Brazil, in this period of transition from the neo-developmental project to the deepening of counter-reforms, which started in the 1990s. The subject is…

In recent years, education-occupation mismatch has become an important area of social research. However, little is known about its impact on the intergenerational transmission of educational attainment. This study investigates the possible negative consequences of a specific aspect of parental education-occupation mismatch, also known as…

Introductory physics courses often serve as gatekeepers for many scientific and engineering programs and, increasingly, colleges are relying on large, lecture formats for these courses. Many students, however, leave having learned very little physics and with poor views of the subject. In interactive engagement (IE), classroom activities encourage…

We present an innovative course-based undergraduate research experience curriculum focused on the characterization of single point mutations in p53, a tumor suppressor gene that is mutated in more than 50% of human cancers. This course is required of all introductory biology students, so all biology majors engage in a research project as part of…

Many students enrolled in university physics have little interest in the subject matter, a trend more pronounced in females. This study assesses students' conceptual understanding and interest during the electrochemistry unit of a physics course for nonphysics majors that was revised in light of consistently low ratings from its students. The…

Science education can be split into two categories: one to provide the basic concepts, knowledge and techniques that students need to follow careers as scientists and the other to provide scientific literacy that will enable students who do not necessarily desire careers in science to be able to understand the world around them. Clearly, courses…

Describes various physics courses offered at Moline, particularly the conduct of self-pacing programs for grade 10-12 students who are either interested in the topic or planning further study in science. Indicates tremendously increasing enrollments with the adoption of the new instruction method. (CC)

Increasing physics enrollment is attributed to student interest in the course that is conducted in an informal atmosphere. Emphasis is placed on laboratory experience with open-ended experiments and problem sessions conducted with small groups. Group instruction and optional research in selected scientific areas are also included. (DF)

Describes the revamping of a high school physics course in which students are challenged by open-ended questions, assignments outside the classroom, guest speakers, a physics bowl and physics olympics. Reports on the increased enrollment in the course and the results of the students' test performance. (TW)

Two objectives of the course are the removal of student-student competition replacing it with student-content involvement, and the improvement of the level of understanding of organic chemistry. These objectives are approached through a modified Keller plan with a series of study guides and quizzes as the core material. (GS)

A study conducted in nine schools to determine the freedom of choice in electing or not electing physics. In five of the nine schools the physics student group indicated a freedom of choice that was significantly lower than that indicated by the non-physics group. The group of physics students included a large number of students who did not elect…