The FIPSE project (FIPSE grant #P116P50026) under study was designed to help implement Workshop Physics (WP) at a variety of undergraduate institutions with the full support of the developers at Dickinson College. This paper is an evaluation of the Workshop Physics courses implemented under this grant in term of students' conceptual understanding and their expectations (cognitive beliefs about physics, mathematics, and learning).

Pre- and post-course testing of the first term course with two standard mechanics concepts tests was used to evaluate conceptual understanding. The two tests used were the Force Concept Inventory (FCI) or the Force Motion Conceptual Evaluation (FMCE). Student Expectations were evaluated with the Maryland Physics Expectations (MPEX) survey, an instrument developed by the authors and others expressly for this purpose. In addition, interviews were conducted with twenty-seven student volunteers at three of the project schools. Results from introductory courses taught with traditional lecture and other research-based curricula (RBC) (where active learning activities are used to supplement lecture) are included for comparison.