SAIP2025

Effects of Learning Environments as Basis for Cognitive Achievements on the Understanding of Basic Physics Concepts

Not scheduled

1h

Solomon Mahlangu House (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg)

Oral Presentation Track E - Physics for Development, Education and Outreach Physics for Development, Education and Outreach

Speaker

Prof. Buyisiwe Sondezi (Department of Physics, University of Johannesburg, Cnr Kingsway Avenue and University Road, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa)

Description

Friendly learning environments have been studied to investigate their effectiveness as the basis of cognitive achievements in the understanding of basic Physics concepts. This is very important when it comes to this notorious subject in terms of difficulty. Students generally believe Physics is a difficult subject, where the challenge is particularly prominent in the first few years of their university experience. This is the stage where students deal with misconceptions about the concepts they need to understand for their success. In an endeavour to deal with this challenge, some lecturers seek ways and strategies for effective methods that could be used to make the delivery of this course easy and manageable for students. A friendly enabling environment was under investigation as one of the methods that was explored in teaching a specific module to a group of first-year students, to enhance their involvement, understanding and ownership of their learning of Physics concepts. This study reports on the findings of this method.