Author

Ian O'Neill

Term

Summer 2019

Capstone

Capstone Project

Degree Name

MAT

Facilitator(s)

Kelly Killorn-Moravec

Content Expert

Jacob Hairrell

Abstract

O’Neill, I. Increasing the Participation and Success of Struggling Students in High School Physics Courses (2019) Physics is the most mathematically complex science course offered in the high school setting. Due to the higher level of mathematical proficiency needed to succeed in physics, it is common for school districts to place it as the final science course offered to high school students. Minnesota only requires students to take three years of science in order to graduate and has no specific requirement for physics. This has led to low enrollment and the negative stigma that physics is an unnecessary and difficult challenge, rather than an interesting and crucial field of science. This capstone uses current research to answer the question, How can a curriculum be created that will increase the participation and success of struggling students in high school physics courses? The result was the development of new physics curriculum that focuses on the pedagogy of problem based learning, inquiry based learning, and culturally responsive teaching. This new approach should boost enrollment and make physics more accessible and engaging for a wider range of students.

Keywords

Curriculum, Science, Problem Based Learning, Inquiry Based Learning

dc_type

text

dc_publisher

DigitalCommons@Hamline

dc_format

application/pdf

dc_source

School of Education Student Capstone Projects

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