Describing What College Physics Students Learned and How They Learned

Abstract

In this study, the author compared the epistemological beliefs between students who were more successful (high gainers) and students who were less successful (low gainers) in a Mechanics standard test. The study involved five high gainers and five low gainers randomly chosen from a Physics class at Central Mindanao University. Epistemological beliefs were determined from the students’ descriptions on what and how they learned physics concepts as reflected in their weekly journals. Findings reveal that both groups viewed physics as made up of CONCEPTS. To the high gainers, CONCEPTS are coherent and interrelated giving a clear picture of a big system that form the basis for explaining physical phenomena; while to the low gainers, physics CONCEPTS are isolated bits of information and ideas. On how they learned what they learned, high gainers believe that knowledge has to be reconstructed from what was previously learned, and being less dependent on AUTHORITY, preferred learning through discussion and REASONING after careful OBSERVING A PHENOMENON and INTERPRETATION. The low gainers, on the other hand, believe that physics can be learned from AUTHORITY by carefully listening to their lectures and OBSERVING what they demonstrate.  Keywords - Conceptual Gains, Epistemological beliefs, weekly-journal, Physics Concepts Â