arXiv subjects

Scott V Franklin

Publications and source records attributed to Scott V Franklin.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2020

How Physics Textbooks Embed Meaning in the Equals Sign

Physics as a discipline embeds conceptual meaning about the physical world in mathematical formalism. The meaning associated with mathematical symbols depends on context, and physicists can shift conceptual meaning by manipulating those symbols. We present an analysis of the different physical meanings associated with the equal sign "=" that can be inferred from introductory and upper--level physics textbooks. Five distinct meanings/categories are identified: causality, balancing, definitional, assignment, and calculation, each with operational definitions that help identify their presence. The different uses can be seen to link mathematical equations to intuitive conceptual ideas, and significant differences in the frequency with which these are used exist between textbooks of different levels.

physics.ed-ph↗

arXiv2017

Quantitative Measures of Equity in Small Groups

This project investigates how to quantitatively measure equity in small student groups. We follow several student groups to operationalize how discourse may be equitable or inequitable. The groups came from a two week, pre-college program that prepares first generation and deaf/hard-of-hearing students to major in a STEM field. In the program, students focus on improving their metacognitive skills and cultural preparation for college life within a context of model building. We use three methods to measure equity. First, we look at speaking time: who talks, when, and to whom. Second, we look to segment student discourse by analyzing consistency of group speaking time. Third, we analyze group equality over time changes. We analyze these methods to see how effective they are at capturing equity in group discourse.

physics.ed-ph↗