Teaching Physics to Life Sciences Students in the SCALE-UP Style

TL;DR

This paper reviews strategies for teaching physics to life sciences students using the SCALE-UP approach, emphasizing relevance and engagement to improve understanding and interest.

Contribution

It presents adaptations of IPLS courses tailored to life sciences students and shares practical experiences in implementing SCALE-UP style teaching.

Findings

Enhanced student engagement and understanding in physics courses.

Improved perception of physics relevance among life sciences students.

Successful adaptation of SCALE-UP methods for biology-focused physics education.

Abstract

Physics has a reputation among majority of life sciences students for being very complicated and tough. If we leave students with this impression, it is likely that students see physics class as useless and irrelevant to life sciences. Concepts of physics are vital in oder to understand physics based technological tools and biophysical topics essential and relevant for life sciences. This review summarizes approaches for improving teaching and learning in introductory physics courses to life science students in the SCALE- UP style. We also discuss our experiences in adapting IPLS Courses to better meet the needs of life sciences students. to better meet the needs of life sciences students.