A study of the effects of an experimental spiral physics curriculum taught to sixth grade girls and boys.

The pilot study compared the effectiveness of using an experimental spiral physics curriculum to a traditional linear physics curriculum for sixth through eighth grades. The study also surveyed students' parents and principals about students' academic history and background as well as identified resilient children's attributes for academic success. The pilot study was used to help validate the testing instrument as well as help refine the complete study. The purpose of the complete study was to compare the effectiveness of using an experimental spiral physics curriculum and a traditional linear curriculum with sixth graders only; seventh and eighth graders were dropped in the complete study. The study also surveyed students' parents, teachers, and principals about students' academic history and background as well as identified resilient children's attributes for academic success. Both the experimental spiral physics curriculum and the traditional linear physics curriculum increased physics achievement; however, there was no statistically significant difference in effectiveness of teaching experimental spiral physics curriculum in the aggregated sixth grade group compared to the traditional linear physics curriculum. It is important to note that the majority of the subgroups studied did show statistically significant differences in effectiveness for the experimental spiral physics curriculum compared to the traditional linear physics curriculum. The Grounded Theory analysis of resilient student characteristics resulted in categories for future studies including the empathy factor ("E" factor), the tenacity factor ("T" factor),the relational factor ("R" factor),and the spiritual factor ("S" factor).

Name thesis:degree_name

Ed.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Grantor

Baylor University.

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Davis, Edith G.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Conaway, Betty J.

• Physics -- Study and teaching (Middle school)
• Curriculum evaluation -- United States -- Case studies.

Statement dc:rights

• Baylor University works are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. Contact libraryquestions@baylor.edu for inquiries about permission.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/2104/5125

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:baylor-ir.tdl.org:2104/5125