비지시적 대학 일반 물리 실험의 긍정적 효과

Positive Effect of Non-directive College Introductory Physics Laboratory

Experiments done in traditional physics laboratories have been criticized for giving too detailed instruction so that student could follow the experimental procedure without understanding. This type of experiment is often called "cookbook experiment." Cookbook experiment was known to be little help to understand the physics concepts and to increase student interest. To solve these problems with traditional cookbook experiment, non-directive introductory physics laboratory was designed and tried with the freshmen of Department of Physics Education of Seoul National University. Non-directive laboratory was characterized by the lack of step by step instruction for students to follow. The instruction students received consisted of the goal of experiment, a short introduction, and a list of suggested materials to be used. Student designed the experimental procedure and decided what material they wanted to use. One group submitted one lab report as a group to encourage cooperation among students. Lab report could be written in any form students wanted and no penalty point was given to poor data or inappropriate theory, etc to encourage taking risks. Penalty points were given if the students did not get involved during class hours. Student received extra point for being creative and / or working hard. Teaching assistants used Socratic dialogue in helping students to find their own way instead of explaining what they had to do. Students' interest about the non-directive experiment was studies at the of the semester. A questionnaire was made for students to answer. The questionnaire consisted of four categories, the equipment and the laboratory, the experimental procedure, the lab report, and teaching assistant. For each category, student were asked to explain the differences from other laboratory classes, features they liked and the reasons why they do, features they did not like and why they did not. At the end of the questionnaire, students were asked what hey wanted to change and what they did not. They also could put any opinion they had other than the questions asked. Student overall opinion was very positive. All the students said they liked the lack of detailed experimental procedure because it gave them the feeling of achievement, made them feel challenged and think in more diverse and creative ways. Students liked the lab report because group report forced them to discuss more and the free form lab report helped them to focus on the what they did. Student responses about the teaching assistant was also positive but not as enthusiastic as the experimental procedure or lab report. However students recognised that the role of the teaching assistant was as a guide, a supporter, or a facilitator.