Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Using Biomedically Relevant Multimedia Content in an Introductory Physics Course for Life Science and Pre-health Students

  • Published:
Journal of Science Education and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We will describe a one-quarter pilot algebra-based introductory physics course for pre-health and life science majors. The course features videos with biomedical experts and cogent biomedically inspired physics content. The materials were used in a flipped classroom as well as an all-online environment where students interacted with multimedia materials online and prior to engaging in classroom activities. Pre-lecture questions on both the medical content covered in the video media and the physics concepts in the written material were designed to engage students and probe their understanding of physics. The course featured group discussion and peer-lead instruction. Following in-class instruction, students engaged with homework assignments which explore the connections of physics and the medical field in a quantitative manner. Course surveys showed a positive response by the vast majority of students. Students largely indicated that the course helped them to make a connection between physics and the biomedical field. The biomedical focus and different course format were seen as an improvement to previous traditional physics instruction.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • AAAS (2011) Vision and change in undergraduate biology education. American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • AAMC (2001) Report IV—contemporary issues in medicine: basic science and clinical research. American Association of Medical Colleges, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • AAMC-HHMI Committee (2009) Scientific foundations for future physicians. Association of American Medical Colleges, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Adams WK, Perkins KK, Podolefsky NS, Dubson M, Finkelstein ND, Wieman CE (2006) New instrument for measuring student beliefs about physics and learning physics: the Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey. Phys Rev Spec Top Phys Educ Res 2(1):010101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bogdanich W, Rebelo K (2011) Bad X-rays found again at a Brooklyn hospital. The New York Times

  • Christensen W, Johnson JK, Van Ness GR, Mylott E, Dunlap JC, Anderson EA, Widenhorn R (2013) Developing and assessing curriculm on the physics of medical instruments. CBE Life Sci Educ 12(2):250–261

    Google Scholar 

  • Crouch CH, Hilborn R, Kane SA, McKay T, Reeves M (2010) Physics for future physicians and life scientists: a moment of opportunity. APS News 19(3):8. http://www.aps.org/publications/apsnews/201003/backpage.cfm

  • Gladding G, Selen M, Stelzer T (2015) smartPhysics. MacMillan Education. https://www.smartphysics.com/Account/LogOn?ReturnUrl=%2f

  • Gouvea J, Sawtelle V, Geller BD, Turpen C (2013) A framework for analyzing interdisciplinary tasks: implications for student learning and curricular design. CBE-Life Sci Educ 12(2):187–205

    Google Scholar 

  • Hilborn RC, Friedlander MJ (2013) Biology and physics competencies for pre-health and other life science students. CBE Life Sci Educ 12(2):170–174

    Google Scholar 

  • Institute of Medicine (2001) Crossing the quality chasm: a new health system for the 21st century. National Academy Press, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Kortemeyer G (2007) The challenge of teaching introductory physics to pre-medical students. Phys Teach 45(9):552–557

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kutschera E, Dunlap JC, Byrd M, Norlin C, Widenhorn, R (2013) Pulse oximetry in the physics lab: a colorful alternative to traditional optics curriculum. Phys Teach 51:495–497

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lawley TJ, Saxton JF, Johns MM (2005) Medical education: time for reform. Trans Am Clin Climatol Assoc 116:311

    Google Scholar 

  • Meredith DC, Redish EF (2013) Reinventing physics for life-science majors. Phys Today 66(7):38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore RW, Foy RL (1997) The scientific attitude inventory: a revision (SAI II). J Res Sci Teach 34(4):327–336

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mylott E, Dunlap JC, Klepetka R, Widenhorn R (2011) An easily assembled laboratory exercise in computed tomography. Eur J Phys 1227–1235

  • Mylott E, Kutschera E, Widenhorn R (2014) Bioelectrical impedance analysis as a laboratory activity: at the interface of physics and the body. Am J Phys 82(5):521–528

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • NRC (2003) BIO2010: Transforming undergraduate education for future research biologists. National Research Council (US), Committee on Undergraduate Biology Education to Prepare Research Scientists for the 21st Century. National Academies Press, US

  • Openstax College (2015) Openstax College. https://openstaxcollege.org/textbooks/college-physics

  • Redish EF, Hammer D (2009) Reinventing college physics for biologists: explicating an epistemological curriculum. Am J Phys 77(7):629–642

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Redish EF, Steinberg RN (1998) Student expectations in introductory physics. Am J Phys 66(3):212–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruskell T, Selen M, Stelzer T (2015) FlipItPhysics. https://www.flipitphysics.com/Account/LogOn?ReturnUrl=%2f

  • Singer SR, Nielsen NR, Schweingruber HA (eds) (2012) Discipline-based education research: understanding and improving learning in undergraduate science and engineering. National Academies Press, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Ness GR, Widenhorn R (2012) Engaging the community through an undergraduate biomedical physics course. Am J Phys 80:1094–1098

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker J (2015) Retrieved from Physics with MasteringPhysics, 4/E. http://www.pearsonhighered.com/educator/product/Physics-with-MasteringPhysics-4E/9780321541635.page

  • Ward ML (2010) Cancer risks debated for type of X-ray scan. The New York Times

  • Woodin T, Vasaly H, McBride D, White G (2013) Integration of physics and biology: synergistic undergraduate education for the 21st century. CBE-Life Sci Educ 12(2):120–123

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all student volunteers, physicians, and biomedical experts who participated or helped with the course creation: Charles R Thomas, Wolfram Laub, James Dolan, Nathan Bronson, Matthew Bentz, Stefanie Kaech Petrie, Jane Weissman, Kate Haas, Samuel Matz, Grace Van Ness (all Oregon Health and Science University) and Stanley B. Teplick from Teplick Custom Vision. This work was supported by Grants (DUE-1141078 and DUE-1431447) from the National Science Foundation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA

    Elliot Mylott, Ellynne Kutschera, Justin C. Dunlap & Ralf Widenhorn

  2. Department of Physics, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA

    Warren Christensen

Authors
  1. Elliot Mylott
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ellynne Kutschera
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Justin C. Dunlap
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Warren Christensen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ralf Widenhorn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elliot Mylott.

Ethics declarations

Compliance with Ethical Standards

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mylott, E., Kutschera, E., Dunlap, J.C. et al. Using Biomedically Relevant Multimedia Content in an Introductory Physics Course for Life Science and Pre-health Students. J Sci Educ Technol 25, 222–231 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-015-9588-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-015-9588-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation