8-12 July 2013
Africa/Johannesburg timezone
<a href="http://events.saip.org.za/internalPage.py?pageId=13&confId=32"><font color=#ff0000>SAIP2013 PROCEEDINGS AVAILABLE</font></a>

Competency in units and measurement: Does it provide a good indicator of the performance of students in university first year Physics?

10 Jul 2013, 10:30
20m
Oral Presentation Track E - Physics Education Education

Speaker

Dr Leelakrishna Reddy (University of Johannesburg)

Abstract content <br> &nbsp; (Max 300 words)

Units and measurements form an integral part of the Physics discipline. Competency in the conversion and manipulation of both fundamental and derived units is a key requirement to achieve success in both theoretical and practical components of Physics courses. In light of this imperative, an investigation into the performance of students in the handling of units in application-type questions and graphs as well as measurements in general, becomes relevant when considering the challenges facing the fit-for-purpose Physics modules in the Engineering and Health Sciences faculties across the universities in South Africa. The results from this study point to the existence of a reliable correlation between the quality of the students entering the university, their competency with respect to units and measurements and their performance in theoretical and practical components of Physics courses.

Level for award<br>&nbsp;(Hons, MSc, <br> &nbsp; PhD)?

N/A

Apply to be<br> considered for a student <br> &nbsp; award (Yes / No)?

No

Main supervisor (name and email)<br>and his / her institution

N/A

Would you like to <br> submit a short paper <br> for the Conference <br> Proceedings (Yes / No)?

Yes

Primary authors

Mr Jan Oelofse (University of Johannesburg) Dr Padmanabhan Nair (University of Johannesburg)

Co-authors

Dr Leelakrishna Reddy (University of Johannesburg) Dr Sam Ramaila (University of Johannesburg)

Presentation Materials