Conceptual Learning--Gains on the FCI

• This curriculum was fully implemented in College Physics I in Fall 2002.  Note the dramatic increase in student learning gains that semester.
• Physics & Biophysics I is the life sciences oriented algebra based physics course.  Covers the same material as College Physics I and uses the same textbook.
• University Physics (calculus based) uses interactive engagement instruction.
• Values for Spring 2003 are estimates (used average pretest scores from previous years).
• Spring 2003 University Physics was an incomplete sample.
• The averge gain found by Richard Hake was 23% for traditional courses, 48% for interactive courses.
• A significant factor in the low gains in the algebra-based courses is the low physics knowledge coming in.  Pretest scores in both algebra-based physics courses are below all the University courses in Hake's sample, below most community college pretest scores and in the range of high-school pretest scores.