Many students reach their first collegelevel physical science course lacking robust conceptual under

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MAKING CONNECTIONS PROBLEM-SOLVING FOR
PRE-ENGINEERS
Many students reach their first college-level
physical science course lacking robust conceptual
understandings and the ability to use their
mathematical knowledge flexibly. Mathematics and
Science Education research confirms the existence
of a "translation" or "transfer" difficulty among
studentsstudents may have successfully completed
mathematics courses listed as prerequisites to
physical science courses, but they face real
challenges when asked to transfer this knowledge
to another field. In winter term 2004, Oregon
State University offered a new one-credit,
optional course for freshman that required
students explicitly to articulate simple physical
relationships using their mathematics skills.
Spring 01 COS Committee recommends intervention
course for at-risk pre- engineers. Winter 03
Volunteer faculty group forms to develop
course. Spring 03 Interdisciplinary graduate
seminar develops some preliminary course
materials. Fall 03 Graduate Instructors hired
with Hewlett funds to develop/revise all course
materials. Winter 04 Graduate Instructors
teach first pilot sections of MAKING
CONNECTIONS. Data collection for external
evaluation. Spring 04 Graduate Instructors and
interdisciplinary graduate seminar revise course
materials. Preliminary external evaluation of
pilot sections prepared for inclusion in NSF
grant submission. Application to be submitted to
NSF for further development/national
dissemination of materials. Anticipated 04/05
Second round.
I actually used what we learned last class to
what I am now learning in my chemistry. It gave
me better understanding about the subject. The
class helps! Thanks! This class helps a lot of
aspects in engineering as well as science/math as
far as thinking goes. how basic math can help
us understand more complicating problems This
class has helped me think a little better with
word problems and such. help on looking to
read the behavior of a graph and understand the
story more. Definitely I learned more about
conversion. Visualizing is a good idea. I like
it. I think this class is going to be very
helpful (and fun). Radioactive decay is cool.
GRADUATE INSTRUCTORS Gulden Karakok,
Mathematics Emily Townsend, Physics FACULTY
CONSULTANTS Barbara Edwards, Mathematics Corinne
Manogue, Physics Ellen Momsen, Director, Women
and Minorities in Engineering Richard Nafshun,
Chemistry
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS William and Flora Hewlett
Foundation Oregon State University Research Office