SOURCE April 25, 2008 Using Backward Design: A Different Way to Teach Physics

A Different Way To Teach Physics 2 SOURCE  Goal: Motivate students to pursue scientific career  Present science topics in a way 21 st century students can appreciate  Create an environment for long lasting understanding Backward Design

A Different Way To Teach Physics 3  Digital Age  Information conveyed electronically  Media types vary  Students are “Digital Natives”  US lags World in producing scientists and engineers  India and China ahead of US  Traditional Methods of Teaching May Not Be Effective  Are we presenting information in a way which motivates students to continue with their studies in science? Background SOURCE

A Different Way To Teach Physics 4 SOURCE  Technology exists to bring high quality video into the classroom –Video Monitors –Video-conferencing  Utilize the best instructors in the US –Video’s exist today for Physics instruction Greater ability to demonstrate arcane physics topics Introducing – Professor Walter Lewin, MIT High School Physics teachers as facilitators Digital Approach

A Different Way To Teach Physics 5 SOURCE  Student returns home to do homework – What happens when they get stuck on a problem? Worse, what happens when they think they are right, when they are actually wrong?  Andes Physics Workbench – Developed by UPitt and US Navy – Interactive Physics tutor Step by step assistance when doing homework Reinforce day’s lesson Longer term retention of topic (Statics – s8a) Andes Physics Workbench

A Different Way To Teach Physics 6  Goal: Motivate students to pursue scientific career  Present science topics in a way 21 st century students can appreciate  Create an environment for long lasting understanding Summary