Appendix A: Interview Script
Brief initial comment: We are interested in knowing how physics and engineering faculty view and teach problem solving in their introductory courses. Physics faculty teach the introductory courses, while engineering faculty all have taken physics courses and are responsible for the engineering students that heavily populate physics 131-2-3. It would be great to tailor those courses to common areas of interest. These interviews may result in publications; if so, all names and the video part of the interview will be removed.
During the interview, you will be asked to answer some questions. Remember that there is no right or wrong answer. So, please freely express your opinions, discuss your own stories, and make any comments that you think may be relevant. Do you have any questions?
Interview Questions:
- Demographic information:
a. What is your field of research?
b. What courses do you most teach?
c. What percentage of your time do you spend on teaching versus research?
d. How would you wish to modify these percentages?
- What are your goals for teaching introductory courses to students, i.e. what do you want them to take away from the course?
- Please comment on how much you value the following types of problems, and then rate them by using a 3-point scale: 1 being low, 2 being medium, and 3 being high in value. Also, please comment on how frequently you use them in your class. Please rate them by using a 3-point scale: 1 being low, 2 being medium, and 3 being high in frequency of use.
a. Single-step end-of-chapter problems;
b. Multiple-step end-of-chapter problems;
c. Problems synthesizing topics that are widely separated in your textbook;
d. Jeopardy problems;
e. Estimation problems;
f. Context-rich problems;
g. Design problems;
h. Trouble-shooting problems.
Appendix B: Online Survey
1. Your Name ______(Your name will NOT be revealed to any third party. Your response will be strictly kept confidential.)
2. How do you VALUE the following types of problems for introductory courses? Rate each item on a 1-5 scale: "5"—high value; "1"—low value.
(a) Single-step end-of-chapter problems
1) Low value
2) Somewhat low value
3) Medium value
4) Somewhat high value
5) High value
(b) Multi-step end-of-chapter problems
1) Low value
2) Somewhat low value
3) Medium value
4) Somewhat high value
5) High value
(c) Problems synthesizing topics widely-separated in textbook
1) Low value
2) Somewhat low value
3) Medium value
4) Somewhat high value
5) High value
(d) Jeopardy problems
1) Low value
2) Somewhat low value
3) Medium value
4) Somewhat high value
5) High value
(e) Estimation problems
1) Low value
2) Somewhat low value
3) Medium value
4) Somewhat high value
5) High value
(f) Context-rich problems
1) Low value
2) Somewhat low value
3) Medium value
4) Somewhat high value
5) High value
(g) Design problems
1) Low value
2) Somewhat low value
3) Medium value
4) Somewhat high value
5) High value
(h) Trouble-shooting problems
1) Low value
2) Somewhat low value
3) Medium value
4) Somewhat high value
5) High value
3. How often do you USE the following types of problems in introductory courses? Rate each item on a 1-5 scale. "5"—frequentlyuse this type of problem; "1"—infrequently use this type of problem.
(a) Single-step end-of-chapter problems
1) Infrequently
2) Somewhat infrequently
3) Medium
4) Somewhat frequently
5) Frequently
(b) Multi-step end-of-chapter problems
1) Infrequently
2) Somewhat infrequently
3) Medium
4) Somewhat frequently
5) Frequently
(c) Problems synthesizing topics widely separated in textbook
1) Infrequently
2) Somewhat infrequently
3) Medium
4) Somewhat frequently
5) Frequently
(d) Jeopardy problems
1) Infrequently
2) Somewhat infrequently
3) Medium
4) Somewhat frequently
5) Frequently
(e) Estimation problems
1) Infrequently
2) Somewhat infrequently
3) Medium
4) Somewhat frequently
5) Frequently
(f) Context-rich problems
1) Infrequently
2) Somewhat infrequently
3) Medium
4) Somewhat frequently
5) Frequently
(g) Design problems
1) Infrequently
2) Somewhat infrequently
3) Medium
4) Somewhat frequently
5) Frequently
(h) Trouble-shooting problems
1) Infrequently
2) Somewhat infrequently
3) Medium
4) Somewhat frequently
5) Frequently
4. Do you agree with the following statements? Please rate each statement on a 1-5 scale. "5"--you strongly agree; "1"--you strongly disagree.
(a) I would be more willing to use research-based problems if I had someone work with me to develop these types of problems to better fit into my introductory classes.
1) Strongly disagree
2) Disagree
3) Neutral
4) Agree
5) Strongly agree
(b) If someone could demonstrate to me how to effectively use these research-based problems, I would be willing to use more of them in my introductory classes.
1) Strongly disagree
2) Disagree
3) Neutral
4) Agree
5) Strongly agree
5. If you have comments or opinions on any of the above items, please feel free to write down in the following box. For example, why do you choose not to use certain types of problems for introductory courses, or what will motivate you to use them?