(1320) EVOLUTION IN THE ASSESSMENT CRITERIA OF LAB WORK IN PHYSICS SUBJECTS FOR THE DEGREE OF CHEMISTRY

摘要

Laboratory work is essential for learning in the experimental sciences. Not only does it allow studentsto understand the physics concepts taught in lectures, but also provides students with the knowledgeand necessary skills to solve scientific problems.In our university, the First Year Physics Course for the degree in Chemistry consists of 30 hours oflaboratory work per semester. Four hours are dedicated to the expression of uncertainty in the resultsof a measurement, and the rest of the time is dedicated to Mechanics and ThermodynamicsExperiments (Physics 1) followed by Fluids, Circuit and Magnetic Field Experiments (Physics 2).In this work we suggest an alternative method for the assessment of laboratory work in the subjects ofPhysics 1 and Physics 2 for the degree in Chemistry.To this end, we compare the results obtained through this alternative method, used by us in the lattertwo years, with the traditional system of evaluation using laboratory notebooks.In previous years at the beginning of the Degree, a lab notebook was used in the assessment ofstudents' lab work. To make this notebook, students had to do a report on each experiment. Each labreport was organized in a similar manner, that is, it was divided into labelled sections where eachsection had a specific purpose. The account of every experiment began with a title followed by a brieftheoretical introduction. Next, there was an experimental section where students collected theexperimental data and noted every step carried out during the process. Students finished with asection discussing the results and conclusions.Students could get up to 1.5 points in this activity but the marks obtained in the lab notebooks werenot as good as we expected. The average value was 0.9 points. We observed that students hadproblems communicating in an orderly way what occurred in an experiment or observation, and theyalso had problems discussing clearly the results on the basis of experimental data.These findings made us consider changing the method of assessment in laboratory work, with an aimto improving the final marks in this activity.We decided to elaborate a lab worksheet for each experiment that allowed students to order theirideas, clarify concepts more easily, and grasp the purpose of the lab practical. In addition, we focusedpart of this worksheet on the treatment of experimental data and indicated the way in which the resultof the analysis should be expressed. Students had two rounds of corrections, a first one where theteacher marked and assessed the mistakes, and a second one where students could correct mistakesand improve their marks.The results obtained with this new method were better than the traditional one and we obtained higherstudent motivation and involvement, greatly improving the learning process.The physics discipline carries out an important role in the basic academic training. This, allows thestudents to develop skills and learning attitudes for the other subjects for the Chemistry degree.Furthermore, the physics will prepare them to have more flexibility in their working life.