1 / 13

An Active-learning Conceptual Physics Course

An Active-learning Conceptual Physics Course. William R. Warren Lord Fairfax Community College. Conceptual Physics. Emphasizes understanding Low math Related to common experience Non-science students. Conceptual Physics Texts (Traditional). Conceptual Physics (Hewitt)

maik
Download Presentation

An Active-learning Conceptual Physics Course

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. An Active-learning Conceptual Physics Course William R. Warren Lord Fairfax Community College

  2. Conceptual Physics • Emphasizes understanding • Low math • Related to common experience • Non-science students

  3. Conceptual Physics Texts(Traditional) • Conceptual Physics (Hewitt) • Physics: A Practical and ConceptualApproach (Wilson) • Physics: A World View (Kirkpatrick and Wheeler) • The Physics of Everyday Phenomena (Griffith) • Physics: Concept and Connections (Hobson) • How Things Work (Bloomfield)

  4. Active-learning • Hands-on (Minds-on) • Little or no lecture • Guided Inquiry • Collaborative • Immediate Feedback

  5. Interactive-engagement vs. Traditional MethodsRichard R. Hake, A.J.P. Jan. ’98Force Concept Inventory gains

  6. Conceptual Physics Texts(Activity-Based) • Physics by Inquiry (McDermott) • Powerful Ideas in Physical Science (Khoury and Kirwan, et. al.) • Explorations in Physics (Jackson, Laws, and Franklin)

  7. Explorations in Physics An Activity-Based Approach to Understanding the World David P. Jackson Priscilla W. Laws Scott V. Franklin John Wiley & Son

  8. Explorations in Physics Unit A: Force, Motion, and Scientific Theories Unit B: Light, Sight, and Rainbows Unit C: Heat Temperature, and Cloud Formation Unit D: Buoyancy Pressure and Flight

  9. Projects • Students investigate a topic related to unit. • Reinforces and applies concepts • First-hand experience in scientific investigation • Group oral report • Individual written report

  10. First Semester Unit A: Force, Motion, and Scientific Theories (4 weeks) Project One (3.5 weeks) Unit D: Buoyancy, Pressure, and Flight (4 weeks) Project Two (3.5 weeks)

  11. Second Semester Unit C: Heat, Temperature, and Cloud Formation (4 weeks) Project Three (3.5 weeks) Unit B: Light, Sight, and Rainbows (4 weeks) Project Four (3.5 weeks)

  12. Evaluation(Course-Specific Questions) The hands-on activities were an effective way for me to learn physics concepts. 4.13 The projects were a good application and extension of what we learned in class. 4.52 Working in groups was a beneficial educational experience. 4.74 The oral reports were worthwhile. 4.13 The written reports were valuable exercises. 4.22

  13. Force Concept Inventory Full FCI Pre-test 26% Post-test 31% g = .067 Partial FCI (no third law, no 2D) Pre-test 25% Post-test 33% g = 0.11

More Related