The use of classroom response systems and multimedia presentations to enhance teaching and learning in first year Physics

The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of technologies including classroom response systems and multimedia presentations to enhance teaching and learning in first year physics. Draper & Brown claimed appropriate use of the response pad systems can increase interactivity by provoking students to think, making them feel secure enough to answer questions anonymously, and increase their confidence in their own learning capacity. A related aim is to systematically integrate the contrasting delivery modes of lectures and laboratory practical for physics in order to develop the students’ conceptual understanding of physics in relation to physics laboratory experiments. To do this, a range of learning objects and instructional aides will be developed to help students to explore physics concepts and to develop their understanding of these concepts.A mixed methods design format will be used for this research project. A combination of qualitative and quantitative analyses will be carried out using the following testing instruments: surveys, questionnaires and pre- and post-testing. This approach requires that the qualitative and quantitative data gathering will take place over the same testing time.The results should indicate if using technologies will enhance teaching and learning in first year physics and if by contrasting delivery modes of lectures and laboratory practical for physics can be better integrated in order to develop students’ conceptual understanding of physics. Positive preliminary survey data was collected during a piloted use of response pads systems in two first year physics classes implying that they can enhance their learning.