Implementation Research On Peer Instruction In Introductory Physics Class

We define learning as the process that learners gain experience from the surroundings and gradually strengthen their knowledge and abilities, which can influence one’s behavior and attitude eventually. The key for teaching is creating such academic environment for the learners, and an education mode or method is the foundation.In recent years, a lot of new teaching modes have been proposed, e.g. co-teaching, blended learning, online learning, etc. The main reason of this phenomenon is the need of a brand-new education mode for the pedagogical development. And we can conclude the development into two aspects. One is the evolution of the teaching philosophy, which should encourage one could burst the restraints of old thoughts and think positively. And the other one is how the new technology could be brought in the education sphere with effect. Apparently, the traditional teaching methodology no longer meets the demand of educational progress. So we would like to discuss one of new teaching modes afterwards, attempting to solve the problem.Peer Instruction is a very popular teaching method overseas, widely used in the field of teaching related to physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer and biology.etc. We can absorb its essence and make it apply to our own education cases. We have done teaching practice on’Introduction Physics’courses for 2012-2013,2013-2014 seasons in Central China Normal University. The research shows that companion pedagogy do improve the students’ performance and participation in classes, and increase students’ interest in this subject. At the same time, teachers could use this method to increase class interaction. Finally, it seems that students’academic performance becomes better than those who do not use this method. In this thesis, we also study companion pedagogy’s implementation strategy and its scope of application in detail.This thesis is divided into six parts as followed. In the first chapter, it describes the research background, content and purpose. The second chapter is about companion pedagogy’s theoretical foundation and its methods. Companion pedagogy’s teaching cases and effect are discussed in chapter 3-5. And it focus on the feedback from the students, teachers’ and students’ behavior unlike the traditional, and how much knowledge accepted by students. The last chapter makes conclusion on companion pedagogy, and puts forward some thoughts on the prospect of research field.