Examining equity and graduation rates at two institutions using a course deficit model and the collaborative learning through active sense-making in physics curriculum

We have previously described the reformed introductory physics course, collaborative learning through active sense-making in physics (CLASP), for bioscience students at a large public research one university (Original University) and presented evidence that the course was more successful and more eq...

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Main Authors: Cassandra A. Paul, David J. Webb
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Physical Society 2025-01-01
Series:Physical Review Physics Education Research
Online Access:http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.21.010107
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author Cassandra A. Paul
David J. Webb
author_facet Cassandra A. Paul
David J. Webb
author_sort Cassandra A. Paul
collection DOAJ
description We have previously described the reformed introductory physics course, collaborative learning through active sense-making in physics (CLASP), for bioscience students at a large public research one university (Original University) and presented evidence that the course was more successful and more equitable than the course it replaced by several measures. Now we compare the original success of CLASP with an implementation at a second institution. We find that the original results hold at another institution despite some changes to the original curriculum and a somewhat different student population. We find that students who take CLASP are (1) less likely to drop, (2) less likely to fail, and (3) do as well in later coursework when compared to students who took the courses that CLASP replaced, even if that coursework is not similarly reformed. We find the above items to be independently true for historically marginalized students and remarkably, also find that (4) marginalized students who take CLASP are more likely to graduate from a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics field. We use a course deficit model perspective to examine these results and discuss some of the factors that may have contributed to this success. We argue that higher education has the tools needed to significantly increase equity and improve student success and retention.
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spelling doaj-art-55b91503c6e946e89805078c9488e7692025-01-23T18:36:11ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Physics Education Research2469-98962025-01-0121101010710.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.21.010107Examining equity and graduation rates at two institutions using a course deficit model and the collaborative learning through active sense-making in physics curriculumCassandra A. PaulDavid J. WebbWe have previously described the reformed introductory physics course, collaborative learning through active sense-making in physics (CLASP), for bioscience students at a large public research one university (Original University) and presented evidence that the course was more successful and more equitable than the course it replaced by several measures. Now we compare the original success of CLASP with an implementation at a second institution. We find that the original results hold at another institution despite some changes to the original curriculum and a somewhat different student population. We find that students who take CLASP are (1) less likely to drop, (2) less likely to fail, and (3) do as well in later coursework when compared to students who took the courses that CLASP replaced, even if that coursework is not similarly reformed. We find the above items to be independently true for historically marginalized students and remarkably, also find that (4) marginalized students who take CLASP are more likely to graduate from a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics field. We use a course deficit model perspective to examine these results and discuss some of the factors that may have contributed to this success. We argue that higher education has the tools needed to significantly increase equity and improve student success and retention.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.21.010107
spellingShingle Cassandra A. Paul
David J. Webb
Examining equity and graduation rates at two institutions using a course deficit model and the collaborative learning through active sense-making in physics curriculum
Physical Review Physics Education Research
title Examining equity and graduation rates at two institutions using a course deficit model and the collaborative learning through active sense-making in physics curriculum
title_full Examining equity and graduation rates at two institutions using a course deficit model and the collaborative learning through active sense-making in physics curriculum
title_fullStr Examining equity and graduation rates at two institutions using a course deficit model and the collaborative learning through active sense-making in physics curriculum
title_full_unstemmed Examining equity and graduation rates at two institutions using a course deficit model and the collaborative learning through active sense-making in physics curriculum
title_short Examining equity and graduation rates at two institutions using a course deficit model and the collaborative learning through active sense-making in physics curriculum
title_sort examining equity and graduation rates at two institutions using a course deficit model and the collaborative learning through active sense making in physics curriculum
url http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.21.010107
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AT davidjwebb examiningequityandgraduationratesattwoinstitutionsusingacoursedeficitmodelandthecollaborativelearningthroughactivesensemakinginphysicscurriculum