The effect of interactive engagement teaching on student understanding of introductory physics at the faculty of engineering, University of Surabaya, Indonesia

This study investigates the effect of a teaching method consisting of peer instruction, worksheets utilization, constructivist classroom dialogue and in‐class demonstration. These teaching elements are intended to promote the interactive engagement of first year undergraduate students in an introductory physics course. The conceptual understanding of students in the experimental classes was better than that of students in the control classes which received traditional lecturing. The students in the experimental classes expressed positive responses towards the activities conducted to involve them actively in the learning process. It is also revealed that students still possess a traditional paradigm of teaching–learning. Several suggestions are presented to improve the implementation of this teaching method.