Evaluation of the 6th International Particle Physics Masterclasses 2010

Konrad Jende

2

1.Objectives, Planning & Carrying out

2.Results3.Conclusions

Outline

We wanted to know: the interests of the students in particle physics. the motivation of the students to attend this course. what kind of exercises and content they want to do. whether they want to deal with real data or simulated data.

1.Objectives

Method:Online questionnaire [Surveymonkey] (+ observations with interviews) in German, English, French and Czech Participants:

1.Planning

country # country # country

#

Germany 268

Hungary 20 U.K. 13

Austria 14 Norway 41 USA 24France 23 Switzerlan

d8 Belgiu

m6

Czech Republic

30 Holland 29 sum 476 (total started)432 (total completed)

2. ResultsWhat the students want to say ...

GREAT EXPERIENCE! Thanks a lot.

I think it was great! You should organise more, in different topics too! :) and advertise it more! (so every student will have the opportunity to take part in it)

It was great!

Die Umfrage ist vorzüglich, abwechslungsreich und spannend.(The survey is excellent, varied and exciting.)

Réduire la théorie pour plus d'experiences.(Reduce theory for more experiments.)

MASTERCLASS IS Totally AWESOME!

This was an amazing experience and I'm so excited to come back tomorrow.

2. ResultsGeneral Assessment of the Course 1

I strongly agree

I agree

I disagree

I strongly disagree

58.4%

39.6%

1.6%

0.5%

The schedule of the Masterclasses is well-organized ...

2. ResultsGeneral Assessment of the Course 2

in ge

n...

intro

lectur

es

exerc

ices

measur

...

local

dis...

Asses this event! Give a mark from A to E with the meaning: A - excellent, B - better than average, C - average, D -

below average, E - very bad!

A B C D E

2. Results

ForcesAnti Matter

CERNDark Matter

HiggsAstroparticlephysics

Structure of the Matter

11131314

1718

2122

2627

2931

4556

What is your particular in-terest in particle physics?

327 students answered (open-ended response)

Interests and contents of exercises

2. Results

yes no

92.27%

7.73%

Do you take part in the Masterclasses voluntarily?(440 students answered)

Motivation 1

2. Results

0%30%60%90%

I am here because

I strongly agree I agreeI disagree I strongly disagree

Motivation 2

2. Results

78%

4%13%

5%What kind of data do you

prefer to work with?(425 students answered)

real data simulated data

Kind of data

2. Results

35%65%

The gender of participants

female male <14 15 17 190.0%1.7%6.6%

17.2%40.8%

23.5%8.7%1.5%

Distribution of the age of the parti-

cipants

3%39%58%

Which kind of physics course do you attend at school?

no physics course at allbasic/general physics course

Basic Information

2. ResultsObservations

Students are creative, curious and sometimes bored! They want to have real data as soon and as much as possible! The data should be from today! Students want good instructions, spreadsheets and cheat sheets! A personal talk about physics and/or studying might be sometimes better than long physic talks!

3. Conclusions

We do now know: what are the interests of the students in particle physics! that most of them attending the Masterclasses because of their own curiosity and the special sphere of this event as well (real scientists teaching current topics of research that enables them to get fresh knowledge)! that we can count on their ideas (at least for the future) ! that they want to deal with both, real data and authentic event displays!

that the Surveymonkey is an useful tool but regrettably it is not scientific enough! that our plan of future Masterclasses exercises covers most of the interests of the students.

Thanks to ...

... Dave Barney for his hint concerning Surveymonkey... Terrence Baine (for the help with the English translation)... Corinne Pralavorio and Marie Anne Bugnon for the French translation... Jana a Lenka Štěpánkovy for the Czech version... all the institutes that gave me a nice reception and well-arranged my stays during the visits.