Evaluation of improved outcomes in physics service courses

Abstract

Since the early 1960s, first year physics at the University of Tasmania in Hobart has been split into a 'mainstream' unit for students wishing to progress towards further physics studies and a terminating unit acting as a service course primarily for students in the biological and health sciences. Whilst having various names over the years, to reflect differing balances of user requirements, the generic title of Physics for Life Sciences is often used for the latter. A significant difficulty is the wide range of student backgrounds, interest and academic ability in an enrolment which has typically been around 60 to 80 students in recent years.