Physics Curriculum Projects

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Physics Curriculum Projects

• Modeling Method
• Active Physics
• Comprehensive Conceptual Curriculum for Physics
  (C3P)
• Constructing Physics Understanding (CPU)
• Mechanical Universe
• Principles of Technology, etc.

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Modeling Instruction in Physics

• The Modeling Method has been developed to correct
  many weaknesses of the traditional
  lecture-demonstration method, including the
  fragmentation of knowledge, student passivity,
  and the persistence of naive beliefs about the
  physical world.
• A project of Arizona State University
• http//modeling.asu.edu/

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Modeling Physics Coherent Instructional
Objectives

• To engage students in understanding the physical
  world by constructing and using scientific models
  to describe, to explain, to predict and to
  control physical phenomena.
• To provide students with basic conceptual tools
  for modeling physical objects and
  processes,especially mathematical, graphical and
  diagrammatic representations.
• To familiarize students with a small set of basic
  models as the content core of physics.

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MODELING INSTRUCTION

• It's a WAY to teach not primarily a curriculum.
• The course is centered around a small set of
  basic models as the core content of physics.
• Students are provided with the basic conceptual
  tools for modeling physical objects and
  processes.
• Armed with these modeling tools, students come to
  view physics not as an endless string of facts
  and formulas, but as a coherent process that
  helps them make sense of the physical world.

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Modeling Physics Instructional Strategy -- 1

• Instruction is organized into modeling cycles
  which move students through all phases of model
  development, evaluation and application in
  concrete situations -- thus promoting an
  integrated understanding of modeling processes
  and acquisition of coordinated modeling skills.
• The teacher sets the stage for student
  activities, typically with a demonstration and
  class discussion to establish common
  understanding of a question to be asked of
  nature. Then, in small groups, students
  collaborate in planning and conducting
  experiments to answer or clarify the question.

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Modeling Physics Instructional Strategy -- 2

• Students are required to present and justify
  their conclusions in oral and/or written form,
  including a formulation of models for the
  phenomena in question and evaluation of the
  models by comparison with data.
• Technical terms and concepts are introduced by
  the teacher only as they are needed to sharpen
  models, facilitate modeling activities and
  improve the quality of discourse.

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Modeling Cycle

• The modeling cycle has two stages, involving the
  two general classes of modeling activities Model
  development and model deployment.
• Roughly speaking, model development encompasses
  the exploration and invention stages of the
  learning cycle.
• Model deployment corresponds to the deployment
  stage. It will be noted that the "modeling
  terminology" is more descriptive of what the
  students actually do in the cycle.

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Active Physics - 1

• Course designed to reach non-traditional
  students.
• NSF-funded project for 9th - 12th grades.
• Uses enticing themes
• sports
• medicine
• home
• transportation
• predictions
• communications
• Field-tested in 51 high schools in 95-96.

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Active Physics - 2

• Each module includes 3 chapter challenges. A
  sample of these chapter challenges include
• Home - design a prototype home that can be used
  in developing nations.
• Sports - invent a sport for the moon.
• Transportation - design and build an improved
  safety device for a car.
• Communications - create a light and sound show
  for your class.
• Medicine - convince your principal you can have a
  dance concert and nobody's hearing will be
  damaged.

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Active Physics - 3

• Uses five proven techniques
• flexibly formatted
• engaging scenarios
• multiple exposures
• constructivist approach
• authentic assessment
• Uses equations and graphs only to represent ideas
  symbolically, and provides instructions for
  calculators and spreadsheets.
• All reading at 9th grade level.
• Students solve problems hands-on and in groups to
  foster teamwork.

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Comprehensive Conceptual Curriculum for Physics

• C3P is a curriculum project designed to implement
  research from physics education into high school
  physics courses and is supported by a grant from
  the National Science Foundation.
• The offices of C3P are located at Department of
  Physics, University of Dallas, Irving, Texas
• Principal Investigator Richard P. Olenick
• http//phys.udallas.edu/frames.html

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Comprehensive Conceptual Curriculum for Physics

• C3P "Fun Physics for Everyone".
• The CD-ROM platform contains curriculum, learning
  cycle-based activities, lesson plans, terms,
  misconceptions and much more to help teachers
  engage students in an activity-based learning
  environment. Based upon PRISMS includes the
  Mechanical Universe, CASTLE, etc.

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Overview

• A high school curriculum that integrates
  video-based, inquiry-based, and lab-oriented
  materials with an effective pedagogy that
  promotes student explorations and that is based
  on findings from current research in students'
  preconceptions.
• The mission of the Project is "to produce a
  comprehensive conceptually based physics
  curriculum for all high schools, usable by all
  teachers, and effective with all students."

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Constructing Physics Understanding

• The CPU pedagogy allows students to construct
  ideas in small groups and as a class to explain
  physical phenomena based on carefully designed
  experimental activities, and small group and
  whole class discussions, but without a textbook
  or the instructor giving the ideas.
• Based upon the belief that computer software and
  innovative pedagogical methods can support the
  creation of significantly more effective learning
  environments.
• The project is based on previous work
  incorporating computer technology to build a
  constructivist-oriented learning environment.

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• Exploration activities, concept development,and
  application activities characteristic of the
  learning cycle.
• PRISMS was awarded a grant in 1998 to develop
  more activities in interdisciplinary areas such
  as biophysics.

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The Mechanical Universe

• Seven quads
• Physics on Earth and in the Heavens
• Conservation Laws and Fundamental Forces
• Kinematics and Scientific Methods
• From Kepler to Einstein
• Electricity
• Magnetism and Beyond
• Modern Physics
• Each quad has four associated videotapes.
• Linked to major textbook chapters
• Comes with Teachers Guide

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• Course in applied science for those who plan
  careers as technicians.
• Blends an understanding of basic principles with
  practice in practical applications.
• Units -- Force, Work, Rate, Resistance, Energy,
  Power, and Force Transformers.
• An equipment-intense course.

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An interesting approach

• The Physics First Initiative