Learning University Physics in Projects and Lectures - Focus Group Discussions in Didactics: Student Opinions and Perceptions

Abstract

The result of a focus group study with second year physics students is reported. The aim has been to investigate student perceptions of teaching and learning in project form. Specifically, the question is if project work can combine the learning of skills, in this case knowledge of numerical algorithms and computer programming, with a deeper understanding of a specific physics problem and if such a combined learning activity can help to remedy student stress by providing a broader learning context. The conclusion, drawn from an analysis of transcripts and recorded data, is that students appreciate project work for the more informal exchange that takes place with teachers and among students. However, in many cases little improvement is seen in work planning as a tendency to delay report writing to close to the dead line remains. Project work in itself can therefore not be seen as a general solution to reduce student stress although the activity is appreciated for other reasons.