Thesis Detail Page

written by Helen Georgiou
This thesis addresses several aspects of the teaching and learning of thermodynamics in the context of first year university Physics. Thermodynamics is a topic that attracts far less attention at the first year level, both in terms of instruction time but also in the literature.

The first part of the thesis focuses on the teaching aspect, and reports on a two-year experiment that involved introducing Interactive Engagement techniques in lectures to facilitate Active Learning. Two different Interactive Engagement techniques were compared, the Interactive Lecture Demonstrations and the Interactive Exercises, across four first year Physics thermodynamics streams at The University of Sydney. In the first year, 2011, there were no differences in learning outcomes between the four streams as measured by the Thermal Concepts Survey and the final first year Physics exam (each technique was trialed in two classes). In 2012 the Thermal Concepts Survey reveals a difference in the streams, with one of the streams which received the Interactive Lecture Demonstration program performing significantly better than the others. Both programs were characterized in terms of the activity of the lecturer and in terms of student engagement. Evaluation surveys and interviews were deployed to gather more information about how the programs were received by the students.
University: The University of Sydney
Academic Department:  School of Physics
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Education Practices
- Active Learning
= Interactive Lecture Demonstration
Thermo & Stat Mech
- General
- Lower Undergraduate
- Reference Material
= Thesis/Dissertation
Intended Users Formats Ratings
- Researchers
- application/pdf
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Access Rights:
Free access
Restriction:
© 2014 Helen Georgiou
Keywords:
Active Learning, Legitimation Code Theory, Theory, Thermodynamics, student understanding
Record Creator:
Metadata instance created June 10, 2015 by Helen Georgiou
Record Updated:
June 13, 2017 by Bruce Mason
Last Update
when Cataloged:
May 30, 2014
Other Collections:

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Record Link
AIP Format
H. Georgiou, , The University of Sydney, 2014, WWW Document, (https://sydney.edu.au/science/physics/pdfs/research/super/georgiou_h_thesis.pdf).
AJP/PRST-PER
H. Georgiou, Doing Positive Work: on student understanding of thermodynamics, The University of Sydney, 2014, <https://sydney.edu.au/science/physics/pdfs/research/super/georgiou_h_thesis.pdf>.
APA Format
Georgiou, H. (2014, May 30). Doing Positive Work: on student understanding of thermodynamics (The University of Sydney, 2014). Retrieved November 11, 2024, from https://sydney.edu.au/science/physics/pdfs/research/super/georgiou_h_thesis.pdf
Chicago Format
Georgiou, Helen. "Doing Positive Work: on student understanding of thermodynamics." The University of Sydney, 2014. https://sydney.edu.au/science/physics/pdfs/research/super/georgiou_h_thesis.pdf (accessed 11 November 2024).
MLA Format
Georgiou, Helen. "Doing Positive Work: on student understanding of thermodynamics." 30 May 2014. The University of Sydney, 2014. 11 Nov. 2024 <https://sydney.edu.au/science/physics/pdfs/research/super/georgiou_h_thesis.pdf>.
BibTeX Export Format
@phdthesis{ Author = "Helen Georgiou", Title = {Doing Positive Work: on student understanding of thermodynamics}, School = {The University of Sydney}, Month = {May}, Year = {2014} }
Refer Export Format

%A Helen Georgiou %T Doing Positive Work: on student understanding of thermodynamics %D May 30, 2014 %I The University of Sydney %U https://sydney.edu.au/science/physics/pdfs/research/super/georgiou_h_thesis.pdf %O School of Physics %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Thesis %A Georgiou, Helen %D May 30, 2014 %T Doing Positive Work: on student understanding of thermodynamics %B School of Physics %I The University of Sydney %8 May 30, 2014 %U https://sydney.edu.au/science/physics/pdfs/research/super/georgiou_h_thesis.pdf


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