Year: 2019
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: We present the experiences of Sam, who represents a contrasting case in the context of students commonly reporting that physics is not connected to their everyday life experiences.Sam is majoring in the life sciences and articulates moments where she uses physics to reason through everyday phenomena.Sam is a contrasting case for two reasons: (1) her attitudes and beliefs contrast with those of many other life science students who happily report never thinking of physics outside the classroom, and (2) whose abilities to see physics around her directly challenge a large body of work around the capability of life science students in perceiving the relevance of physics.We explore the ways in which courses can support students like Sam to find physics relevant to their everyday experiences and also describe areas of Sam's life outside the classroom that have contributed to her sense that physics is relevant to her everyday life.
Authors: Abhilash Nair, Vashti Sawtelle
Institution: Michigan State University
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W2889511333