Foundation physics: A developmental approach to preparing disadvantaged students for mainstream physics

Many students in South Africa come from communities and schools in which they have had little or no exposure to science in general and physics in particular. Given that physics is a prerequisite for so many careers in the sciences and applied sciences, it is important that such students should not have their career options severely limited because university physics courses are beyond their grasp. The foundation physics course at the University of Natal has been designed to meet academically talented but disadvantaged students where they are when they emerge from their under-resourced high schools and, during the course of one year, get them to where they need to be in order to cope with first-year university physics. The foundation course is developmental in nature, starting slow and low, and increasing both in pace and level of difficulty as the year progresses. In this paper I shall describe the overall philosophy of the course as well as its four main elements, namely: concepts, cognitive skills, practical skills, and familiarity with certain specific pieces of equipment. I shall also include students' reponses to the course.