Using Concept Inventories to Measure Understanding

Measuring understanding is notoriously difficult. Indeed, in formulating learning outcomes the word “understanding” is usually avoided, but in the sciences, developing understanding is one of the main aims of instruction. Scientific knowledge is factual, having been tested against empirical observation and experimentation, but knowledge of facts alone is not enough. There are also models and theories containing complex ideas and inter-relationships that must be understood, and considerable attention has been devoted across a range of scientific disciplines to measuring understanding. This case study will focus on one of the main tools employed: the concept inventory and in particular the Force Concept Inventory. The success of concept inventories in physics has spawned concept inventories in chemistry, biology, astronomy, materials science and maths, to name a few. We focus here on the FCI, ask how useful concept inventories are for evaluating learning gains. Finally, we report on recent work by the authors to extend conceptual testing beyond the multiple-choice format

Why People Hate to Wait

A need for goal closure underlies frustration with waitingLa

Reconsidering Ordinary Language Philosophy: Malcolm’s (Moore’s) Ordinary Language Argument

The ‘Ordinary Language’ philosophy of the early 20th century is widely thought to have failed. It is identified with the broader so-called ‘linguistic turn’, a common criticism of which is captured by Devitt and Sterelny (1999), who quip: “When the naturalistic philosopher points his finger at reality, the linguistic philosopher discusses the finger.” (p 280) The implication is that according to ‘linguistic’ philosophy, we are not to study reality or truth or morality etc, but the meaning of the words ‘reality’, ‘truth’, ‘morality’ etc. Ordinary Language philosophy has fallen so thoroughly into disrepute because it is supposed to advocate that not only are we to study words and meanings rather than the phenomena themselves (which is apparently bad enough), but we must restrict that study to words and meanings as they occur in the language used by the ordinary speaker. A number of preposterous corollaries have been taken to follow from this view. Most seriously, perhaps, and irritatingly, is that any theory which contains ‘non-ordinary’ uses of expressions is thereby ‘meaningless’ or simply false – which is clearly absurd. In this paper I show that this is a completely inaccurate picture of Ordinary Language philosophy. My aim is to correct these persistent misinterpretations, and make possible a more sensible reassessment of the philosophy

Examining the Relationships between Trails, Social Capital and Health in Cuba, New Mexico to Inform a HIA

Health Impact Assessments (HIA) have been conducted throughout the United States, but few have been conducted in rural communities, specifically on the development of trails. This study explores the relationship between trails, social capital, quality of life and health to determine if trail building in the small, rural, tri‐ethnic community of Cuba, NM is associated with increased social capital and thereby increased health. First, a systematic literature review of the benefits of social capital on health and in relation to trails was conducted addressing the importance of social capital for a community. Second, STEP‐HIA survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics for percentages of people indicating if they walk with family/friends and gain both social and health benefits from the trails. Third, qualitative interview data from key stakeholders were examined in NVivo analyzing the relationship between physical activity, access to trails and social support. Overall, these results show the potential of trails to increase social capital and health in Cuba, NM. This information will be incorporated in a HIA to influence decision makers regarding the location of new trails in and around Cuba, and specifically for access to the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). These findings can then be used as evidence to plan the development of trails in other communities, particularly in rural areas surrounded by Public Lands.https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/prc-posters-presentations/1002/thumbnail.jp

The Potential Economic Impact of the Continental Divide Trail in Cuba, New Mexico

Poverty, a social determinant of health, is common in rural communities. Developing recreation and tourism infrastructure, such as trails, has the potential to reduce disparities and improve rural quality of life through effects on health and local economies. There is limited information that exists on the economic impact of outdoor recreation and tourism on small, rural communities, but there is a known relationship between economic well‐being and health. Cuba, New Mexico, a small rural community, experiences high rates of obesity and diabetes among its tri‐ethnic (Hispanic, American Indian, Anglo) population. The University of New Mexico Prevention Research Center (PRC) has partnered with Cuba to increase awareness of, develop, and study the effects of walking and hiking trails. The Santa Fe National Forest Service (SFNFS) and New Mexico Bureau of Land Management (NMBLM) recently proposed to construct a new segment of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT) near Cuba. The PRC is conducting a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) including the economic impact of the proposed trail segment. An HIA uses multiple data sources and stakeholder input to determine the effects of a proposed plan on the health of a population. We conducted mixed methods research focused on the economic component of the HIA by examining data from local and visitor populations to predict the likelihood of trail use, related expenditures, and the public’s perceptions of the CDT expansion on the community. Decision‐makers including the SFNFS, the NMBLM, NM Department of Transportation, Sandoval County, and the Village of Cuba will use the results to determine exact CDT placement, access, and design. Economic effects predicted from this HIA may help decision‐makers maximize desirable economic outcomes. Our findings indicate that CDT development has the potential to attract many users from central and northwest New Mexico and provide substantial local economic stimulation. This HIA will also serve as a model for others interested in studying and projecting both health and economic impacts of new trails.https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/prc-posters-presentations/1003/thumbnail.jp

The dynamics of pressure and form drag on a sloping headland: Internal waves versus eddies

Topographically generated eddies and internal waves have traditionally been studied separately even though bathymetry that creates both phenomena is abundant in coastal regions. Here a numerical model is used to understand the dynamics of eddy and wave generation as tidal currents flow past Three Tree Point, a 1 km long, 200 m deep, sloping headland in Puget Sound, WA. Bottom pressure anomalies due to vertical perturbations of the sea surface and isopycnals are used to calculate form drag in different regions of the topography to assess the relative importance of eddies versus internal waves. In regions where internal waves dominate, sea surface and isopycnal perturbations tend to work together to create drag, whereas in regions dominated by eddies, sea surface, and isopycnal perturbations tend to counteract each other. Both phenomena are found to produce similar amounts of form drag even though the bottom pressure anomalies from the eddy have much larger magnitudes than those created by the internal waves. Topography like Three Tree Point is common in high latitude, coastal regions, and therefore the findings here have implications for understanding how coastal topography removes energy from tidal currents.Keywords: tides, internal lee waves, topography, form drag, internal waves, eddie

SNAP-Ed New Mexico Social Marketing Project Phase II Report

https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/prc-fr/1001/thumbnail.jp

SNAP-Ed New Mexico Social Marketing Project Phase II Report

The SNAP-Ed New Mexico Social Marketing Project is a multiphase study that explores how the core nutrition messages developed by FNS and its collaborators are received by people of Hispanic-origin, particularly those of Mexican or Mexican-American descent. The objective of the SNAP-Ed New Mexico Social Marketing Project is to create culturally appropriate nutrition education messages in Spanish and implement a multi-level social marketing intervention to increase fruit, vegetable, whole grain, and low-fat and fat-free dairy consumption