Reseach Interests in Physics Education
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Dr. Saul's research focus is on implementing, adapting, and assessing
the effectiveness of activity-based instruction in high school
and undergraduate physics classes. As
part of FIU’s CHEPREO project,
his current research emphasizes
SCALE-UP and
Arizona State University’s Modeling
Physics curricula in both high school and undergraduate classes
including professional development for high school teachers. Physics
and Science Education Masters and Doctoral students
working with Dr.
Saul's research
group assist, study, and evaluate implementations of introductory
activity-based physics classes at diverse undergraduate and K-12
institutions. Much of his research focuses on evaluating
student learning and developing assessment instruments. As part of
his disseration
research, he worked with Joe
Redish and Richard
Steinberg to develop
the original Maryland Physics Expectation (MPEX) survey.
The FIU Physics Education
Research Group conducts a coordinated program of research, curriculum development,
and instruction to improve the
teaching and learning of physics. The group's main projects include
assessment of student learning in introductory physics classes, developing
and implementing innovative activity-based physics curricula, and
preparing pre-college and in-service teachers to use technology and
inquiry to meet the National Science Education Standards. Graduate students
joining
the group
may work on these projects or pursue related research interests including
research and development of curriculum materials for specific physics
topics, research on effective uses of instructional technology, and
developing new assessment instruments.
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Awards
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- Best Paper Award at the
14th International Conference on College Teaching and Learning,
Jacksonville, FL (2005).
- Best Paper in Division
Award at National ASEE meeting, St. Louis, MO (2000).
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Biography
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Dr. Saul began his academic
career at the United State Coast Guard Academy before transferring
to the University of California, Irvine
where he completed a B.S. in Applied Physics. He went on to graduate
work at the University of Maryland, College Park where he became
a founding member of the Maryland
Physics Education Research Group with Edward
F. "Joe" Redish.
In 1998, Dr. Saul completed a Ph.D. in Physics at University of Maryland
with a dissertation
in Physics Education Researc. His dissertation, Beyond
Problem Solving: Evaluating Introductory Physics Courses Through
the Hidden
Curriculum compares
gains in students conceptual understanding, problem solving, and
cognitive attitutes ("expectations") in classes taught
with research-based "active-learning" teaching methods
with regular lecture classes at 10 colleges and universities.
Upon finishing his Ph.D.
Dr. Saul completed post-doctoral training with Robert Beichner
and the Physics
Education R & D group at North Carolina State University working
on the Student Centered Activities for Large Enrollment Undergraduate
Programs (SCALE-UP) project developing activity-based introductory
physics classes of up to 100 students. The primary goal of the project is to determine the best way to
establish a highly collaborative, hands-on, computer-rich, interactive
learning environment in large introductory physics and chemistry
classes. The project team is studying the classroom designs, classroom
management techniques, and curricula needed to optimize activity-based
classes of up to 100 students.
Before coming to FIU in
Fall 2005, Dr. Saul spent five years implementing a SCALE-UP
program at the
University
of
Central Florida including the development of a 72-student studio
classroom. He still works on UCF's GK-12 Program which trains
Science & Engineering graduate students to work with K-12 science
classes in Orange County.
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Recent
Papers of Interest
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- R. McGrew, J. Saul, and
C. Teague, Instructor's Manual to accompany Physics for Scientists
and Engineers (5th ed.) by Serway and Beichner
(Saunders College Publishing, Philadelphi PA, 2000).
- R.J. Beichner J.M. Saul,
, R.J. Allain, D.L. Deardorff, and D.S. Abbott, "Introduction
to SCALE-UP: Student Centered Activities for Large Enrollment University
Physics," Proceedings of the 2000 Annual meeting of the American
Society for Engineering Education. (View PDF)
- J.M. Saul, D.S. Abbott,
R.J. Allain, D.L. Deardorff, and R.J. Beichner, " Evaluating
introductory physics classes in light of the ABET criteria: An
example from the SCALE-UP project ," Proceedings of the
2000 Annual meeting of the American Society for Engineering Education.
(Winner of the ASEE
best paper award) (View PDF)
- E.F. Redish, J.M. Saul,
and R.N. Steinberg, "Student Expectations
in Introductory Physics," American Journal of Physics
66 (3), 212-224 (1998). (View PDF)
- E.F. Redish, J.M. Saul,
and R.N. Steinberg, "On the effectiveness
of active-engagement microcomputer-based laboratories," American
Journal of Physics 65 (1), 45-54 (1997). (View PDF)
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