Impact of Model Based Inquiry on Physics First
ABSTRACT The Impact of a Model-Based Inquiry Freshman Physics Course Author: Tim Burgess, Ph.D. McGill-Toolen Catholic High School June 11, 2013 In the period from 2008-2012 McGill-Toolen Catholic High School changed from a high school science course sequence of Integrated Science (for freshman), Biology (for sophomores), Chemistry (for juniors) and then Physics (as a senior elective). Model-based inquiry (a system of activity and discourse that engages learners) was limited to a third of the students in the senior class that elected to take Physics prior to the change. The majority of freshman physics classes changed to using model-based inquiry starting in 2008. This research examined the impact of model-based inquiry on reasoning skills as measured by the ACT over a twelve year period prior to the change, during the change and after the change. The new science sequence had a majority of freshman in model-based inquiry physics class followed by Chemistry (sophomore), Biology (ju