Cassandra Paul
@cassandrapaul.bsky.social
Physics & Astronomy | Science Education Professor (she/her)
STEM education researcher, PER, parent of 3, runner, lover of the outdoors and Sci-Fi/Fantasy fiction
STEM education researcher, PER, parent of 3, runner, lover of the outdoors and Sci-Fi/Fantasy fiction
Pinned
Cassandra Paul
@cassandrapaul.bsky.social
· Oct 21
High-stakes exams inflate a gender gap and contribute to systematic grading errors in one introductory physics series
A study in introductory physics suggests high-stakes exams are causing a gender gap, rather than measuring it.
link.aps.org
Proud of the work I published with @djphysicswebb.bsky.social . Gender Gap in intro physics is eliminated when employing retake exams because women do better on the FIRST try - suggesting exam STAKES (not differences in preparation/understanding) explain gender gap. 🧪 link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
Reposted by Cassandra Paul
ICE and CBP must not receive another cent while people are being killed, beaten, and kidnapped in the streets.
www.huffpost.com/entry/adam-s...
www.huffpost.com/entry/adam-s...
‘I'm Not Giving ICE Another Dime’: Schiff Says Republicans Who Vote To Give ICE More Funding Will ‘See More Americans Die’
Sen. Adam Schiff also argued the money funded to DHS has been “wasted hand over fist."
www.huffpost.com
January 27, 2026 at 3:26 PM
ICE and CBP must not receive another cent while people are being killed, beaten, and kidnapped in the streets.
www.huffpost.com/entry/adam-s...
www.huffpost.com/entry/adam-s...
Thank you, Sen. Schiff!
ICE and CBP must not receive another cent while people are being killed, beaten, and kidnapped in the streets.
www.huffpost.com/entry/adam-s...
www.huffpost.com/entry/adam-s...
‘I'm Not Giving ICE Another Dime’: Schiff Says Republicans Who Vote To Give ICE More Funding Will ‘See More Americans Die’
Sen. Adam Schiff also argued the money funded to DHS has been “wasted hand over fist."
www.huffpost.com
January 27, 2026 at 4:50 PM
Thank you, Sen. Schiff!
Reposted by Cassandra Paul
Across America and the world, people are realizing it’s not possible to appease America’s dictator.
The only way to deal with him is to stand up to him — and the only way to stand up to him is by joining together against him.
It's time for a massive general strike across the country.
The only way to deal with him is to stand up to him — and the only way to stand up to him is by joining together against him.
It's time for a massive general strike across the country.
January 25, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Across America and the world, people are realizing it’s not possible to appease America’s dictator.
The only way to deal with him is to stand up to him — and the only way to stand up to him is by joining together against him.
It's time for a massive general strike across the country.
The only way to deal with him is to stand up to him — and the only way to stand up to him is by joining together against him.
It's time for a massive general strike across the country.
Reposted by Cassandra Paul
The killing of Alex Pretti is a heartbreaking tragedy. It should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault.
January 25, 2026 at 5:39 PM
The killing of Alex Pretti is a heartbreaking tragedy. It should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault.
Reposted by Cassandra Paul
A reminder to the news media: “conflicting accounts” is what you say BEFORE the incontrovertible video evidence appears. After that, your job is to ask why one side is lying, not to repeat the lie and pretend no one knows the truth.
January 25, 2026 at 12:28 PM
A reminder to the news media: “conflicting accounts” is what you say BEFORE the incontrovertible video evidence appears. After that, your job is to ask why one side is lying, not to repeat the lie and pretend no one knows the truth.
Reposted by Cassandra Paul
I don’t want to hear anything from an elected official unless it’s a plan to defund the DHS and impeach Noem, Bovino, etc. No texts. No emails. No talk about the economy. Step up or step off.
January 24, 2026 at 7:23 PM
I don’t want to hear anything from an elected official unless it’s a plan to defund the DHS and impeach Noem, Bovino, etc. No texts. No emails. No talk about the economy. Step up or step off.
Reposted by Cassandra Paul
I don’t want to hear anything from an elected official unless it’s a plan to defund the DHS and impeach Noem, Bovino, etc. No texts. No emails. No talk about the economy. Step up or step off.
January 24, 2026 at 10:22 PM
Reposted by Cassandra Paul
No science or nature today. ICE just murdered another person in my home state, an ICU nurse working with vets & now they're trying to frame him for the action . All because ICE is angry & afraid of the 50000 Minnesotans who marched yesterday. If you're not calling Congress you're letting them down
January 24, 2026 at 10:24 PM
No science or nature today. ICE just murdered another person in my home state, an ICU nurse working with vets & now they're trying to frame him for the action . All because ICE is angry & afraid of the 50000 Minnesotans who marched yesterday. If you're not calling Congress you're letting them down
Reposted by Cassandra Paul
Tip for Californians- @padilla.senate.gov doesn’t allow VM at his DC office during non business hours (which seriously??) but you can leave a message at a local office. Neither CA Senators ever have people answering the phones in my experience at any office even during business hours.
No science or nature today. ICE just murdered another person in my home state, an ICU nurse working with vets & now they're trying to frame him for the action . All because ICE is angry & afraid of the 50000 Minnesotans who marched yesterday. If you're not calling Congress you're letting them down
January 24, 2026 at 10:45 PM
Tip for Californians- @padilla.senate.gov doesn’t allow VM at his DC office during non business hours (which seriously??) but you can leave a message at a local office. Neither CA Senators ever have people answering the phones in my experience at any office even during business hours.
We are extremely proud of this!
The San José State Physics and Astronomy Department has earned a Bronze Award from the #Physics and #Astronomy SEA Change Committee (P/A SEA Change) for its work to create a more inclusive and supportive department. Read more ➡ ow.ly/23Ru50XX3cG #PASEAChange #ITeachPhysics
January 15, 2026 at 11:56 PM
We are extremely proud of this!
Reposted by Cassandra Paul
The San José State Physics and Astronomy Department has earned a Bronze Award from the #Physics and #Astronomy SEA Change Committee (P/A SEA Change) for its work to create a more inclusive and supportive department. Read more ➡ ow.ly/23Ru50XX3cG #PASEAChange #ITeachPhysics
January 15, 2026 at 5:05 PM
The San José State Physics and Astronomy Department has earned a Bronze Award from the #Physics and #Astronomy SEA Change Committee (P/A SEA Change) for its work to create a more inclusive and supportive department. Read more ➡ ow.ly/23Ru50XX3cG #PASEAChange #ITeachPhysics
Reposted by Cassandra Paul
Minnesota needs ICE to leave, not an escalation that brings additional federal troops beyond the 3,000 already here. My priority is keeping local law enforcement focused on public safety, not diverted by federal overreach. www.kare11.com/mobile/artic...
Trump threatens to invoke Insurrection Act, send troops into Minneapolis over anti-ICE protests
President Donald Trump threatened to "institute the Insurrection Act" in Minneapolis Thursday morning to quell protests in opposition to immigration enforcement.
www.kare11.com
January 15, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Minnesota needs ICE to leave, not an escalation that brings additional federal troops beyond the 3,000 already here. My priority is keeping local law enforcement focused on public safety, not diverted by federal overreach. www.kare11.com/mobile/artic...
Reposted by Cassandra Paul
No one in America is safe from ICE. They are taking our freedoms. ICE agents who are committing crimes must be prosecuted.
January 14, 2026 at 6:59 PM
No one in America is safe from ICE. They are taking our freedoms. ICE agents who are committing crimes must be prosecuted.
Reposted by Cassandra Paul
ICE is shooting mothers in the face and breaking down people’s doors without warrants. I won’t support a spending bill that doesn’t rein in Trump’s masked, poorly trained ICE agents terrorizing American citizens.
January 14, 2026 at 8:49 PM
ICE is shooting mothers in the face and breaking down people’s doors without warrants. I won’t support a spending bill that doesn’t rein in Trump’s masked, poorly trained ICE agents terrorizing American citizens.
Reposted by Cassandra Paul
Increase in productivity since 1979: 87%
Increase in hourly pay since 1979: 32%
Just so happens that ~25% of workers were unionized in 1979. Today? 10%.
As unions declined, the super-rich have taken a larger share of wealth generated by labor. We must build back union power.
Increase in hourly pay since 1979: 32%
Just so happens that ~25% of workers were unionized in 1979. Today? 10%.
As unions declined, the super-rich have taken a larger share of wealth generated by labor. We must build back union power.
December 28, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Increase in productivity since 1979: 87%
Increase in hourly pay since 1979: 32%
Just so happens that ~25% of workers were unionized in 1979. Today? 10%.
As unions declined, the super-rich have taken a larger share of wealth generated by labor. We must build back union power.
Increase in hourly pay since 1979: 32%
Just so happens that ~25% of workers were unionized in 1979. Today? 10%.
As unions declined, the super-rich have taken a larger share of wealth generated by labor. We must build back union power.
Reposted by Cassandra Paul
Casual reminder that the myth of “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps” is a cruel hoax designed to convince poor people from all walks of life that the injustices they face are a result of their own actions, rather than an oppressive system rigged against them.
December 21, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Casual reminder that the myth of “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps” is a cruel hoax designed to convince poor people from all walks of life that the injustices they face are a result of their own actions, rather than an oppressive system rigged against them.
Reposted by Cassandra Paul
"No one should be made to feel inferior or that they do not belong in science because of their origins." #ScienceWorkingLife https://scim.ag/48JF6Pg
December 3, 2025 at 7:11 PM
"No one should be made to feel inferior or that they do not belong in science because of their origins." #ScienceWorkingLife https://scim.ag/48JF6Pg
Reposted by Cassandra Paul
Our new research indicates that the gender gap in intro physics is an artifact correlated with the “stakes” associated with physics exams and is therefore NOT due to differences in preparation or understanding. 🧪🧵 #acadmicsky #HigherEd #EduSky #STEMed link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
High-stakes exams inflate a gender gap and contribute to systematic grading errors in one introductory physics series
A study in introductory physics suggests high-stakes exams are causing a gender gap, rather than measuring it.
link.aps.org
October 31, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Our new research indicates that the gender gap in intro physics is an artifact correlated with the “stakes” associated with physics exams and is therefore NOT due to differences in preparation or understanding. 🧪🧵 #acadmicsky #HigherEd #EduSky #STEMed link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
This thread illustrates why it’s so important to think about grades and grading from the student perspective.
So there is a new article out about grade inflation at a certain school and people think it's funny that students told the student paper that the report was stressful and here's why I don't think it's funny
A friend of mine killed herself my senior year
It is a high pressure place
and
A friend of mine killed herself my senior year
It is a high pressure place
and
November 1, 2025 at 2:13 PM
This thread illustrates why it’s so important to think about grades and grading from the student perspective.
Our new research indicates that the gender gap in intro physics is an artifact correlated with the “stakes” associated with physics exams and is therefore NOT due to differences in preparation or understanding. 🧪🧵 #acadmicsky #HigherEd #EduSky #STEMed link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
High-stakes exams inflate a gender gap and contribute to systematic grading errors in one introductory physics series
A study in introductory physics suggests high-stakes exams are causing a gender gap, rather than measuring it.
link.aps.org
October 31, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Our new research indicates that the gender gap in intro physics is an artifact correlated with the “stakes” associated with physics exams and is therefore NOT due to differences in preparation or understanding. 🧪🧵 #acadmicsky #HigherEd #EduSky #STEMed link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
Reposted by Cassandra Paul
Research suggesting how an exam gender gap can be inflated from zero up to roughly 1/3 of a grade point simply by increasing the stakes of your exams.
Can't help thinking of gaps on a different high stakes exam, the SAT, when I see results like these.
#iTeachPhysics 🎢 #EduSky 🍎 #academia #HigherEd
Can't help thinking of gaps on a different high stakes exam, the SAT, when I see results like these.
#iTeachPhysics 🎢 #EduSky 🍎 #academia #HigherEd
Proud of the work I published with @djphysicswebb.bsky.social . Gender Gap in intro physics is eliminated when employing retake exams because women do better on the FIRST try - suggesting exam STAKES (not differences in preparation/understanding) explain gender gap. 🧪 link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
High-stakes exams inflate a gender gap and contribute to systematic grading errors in one introductory physics series
A study in introductory physics suggests high-stakes exams are causing a gender gap, rather than measuring it.
link.aps.org
October 21, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Research suggesting how an exam gender gap can be inflated from zero up to roughly 1/3 of a grade point simply by increasing the stakes of your exams.
Can't help thinking of gaps on a different high stakes exam, the SAT, when I see results like these.
#iTeachPhysics 🎢 #EduSky 🍎 #academia #HigherEd
Can't help thinking of gaps on a different high stakes exam, the SAT, when I see results like these.
#iTeachPhysics 🎢 #EduSky 🍎 #academia #HigherEd
Proud of the work I published with @djphysicswebb.bsky.social . Gender Gap in intro physics is eliminated when employing retake exams because women do better on the FIRST try - suggesting exam STAKES (not differences in preparation/understanding) explain gender gap. 🧪 link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
High-stakes exams inflate a gender gap and contribute to systematic grading errors in one introductory physics series
A study in introductory physics suggests high-stakes exams are causing a gender gap, rather than measuring it.
link.aps.org
October 21, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Proud of the work I published with @djphysicswebb.bsky.social . Gender Gap in intro physics is eliminated when employing retake exams because women do better on the FIRST try - suggesting exam STAKES (not differences in preparation/understanding) explain gender gap. 🧪 link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
Reposted by Cassandra Paul
October 18, 2025 at 3:42 PM