12-15 July 2011
Saint George Hotel
Africa/Johannesburg timezone

Pre knowledge of physics 1 students on vectors

13 Jul 2011, 11:45
15m
Acro7

Acro7

Oral Presentation Track E - Physics Education Education

Speaker

Mrs Motlalepula Rebecca Mhlongo (University of Limpopo)

Description

The purpose of this study was to investigate the pre-knowledge of the Physics I students on vectors. The study was conducted on 234 Physics I students from the University of Limpopo (Medunsa campus). The sample was divided into four groups, where the first group (n = 119) did their grade 12 in 2010, the second group (n = 46) did their grade 12 prior 2010, the third group (n = 42) did Foundation Physics in 2010 and the fourth group (n = 27) were those repeating Physics I. An ex post facto research design was chosen for the study whereby all the groups were given a vector test at the beginning. The test was divided into three questions, testing definitions, classifications, drawing and interpretations of graphs. Results showed a less difference between average percentage of the groups whereby the group before 2010 (47.4%), foundation group (47.3%), the repeaters (44.3%) and those who did grade 12 in 2010 (44.1%).

Consider for a student <br> &nbsp; award (Yes / No)? No
Level (Hons, MSc, <br> &nbsp; PhD, other)? PhD
Would you like to <br> submit a short paper <br> for the Conference <br> Proceedings (Yes / No)? Yes

Primary author

Mrs Motlalepula Rebecca Mhlongo (University of Limpopo)

Co-authors

Mr Alfred Moloi (University of Limpopo) Dr Enoch Sithole (University of Limpopo)

Presentation Materials