Using Discipline Specific Action Research to Inform Curriculum Development & Classroom Practice A Case Study: Workshop Physics

Collaborators u Robert Boyle, Dickinson College u Patrick Cooney, Millersville University u Kenneth Laws, Dickinson College u Priscilla Laws, Dickinson College u John Luetzelschwab, Dickinson College u Hans Pfister, Dickinson College u David Sokoloff, University of Oregon u Ronald Thornton, Tufts University

Funding u National Science Foundation u Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education

Workshop Physics u Calculus-based course w/ no formal lectures u Collaborative, activity-based classroom u Three 2-hour classes each week u Use of a student Activity Guide u Computer tools for data collection & analysis u 12-25% content reduction u Retention of exams u Textbook optional

Assessment u Conceptual Learning u Mathematical Literacy u Attitudes toward Science u Problem Solving u Scientific Literacy

Newton’s Third Law A Case Study

Newton’s Third Law Research “Force Concept Inventory,” D. Hestenes, M. Wells and G. Swackhamer, Phys. Teach. 30, (1992). This paper contains the Force Concept Inventory (FCI) and a detailed discussion of the Newtonian concepts it is constructed to probe. Results from administration of the FCI before and after instruction are given for some high school and university classes.

Newton’s Third Law Assessment Truck and car in head on collision Heavy student pushes light one Small car pushes Truck w/ dead engine

Newton’s Third Law Assessment

Two Force Probe Observations Add extra mass to one of the carts and allow them to collide in lots of ways. When does one cart exert more force on the other?

What do Students Learn from Active Participation in ILDs? Comparisons with traditional methods of lecturing and with activity-based methods such as RealTime Physics Laboratories and Workshop Physics

ILDs vs. Other Methods Comparison of FMCE Gains 0%20%40%60%80%100% Tufts U. Agebra-based w/ ILDs (N=195) U of O Algebra-based w/ ILDs (N=79) Dickinson Workshop Physics F97 (N=45) Muhlenberg Algebra-based w/ ILDs (N=87) RPI Studio Physics w/ ILD (N=81) Mt. Ararat H.S. ILDs (N=33) RPI Studio Physics w/o ILD (N=145) Sydney U Traditional Calc-based (N=472) U of O Traditional Algebra-based (N=236) (% Normalized Gain)

u Demonstration #4: Compare the forces which the carts exert on each other during the collision. An Interactive Lecture Demonstration

F vs. t for a Two Cart Collision

Newton’s Third Law Assessment

Dickinson College Third Law History Workshop Physics FMCE Pre-Post Test Data by Year Newton’s Third Law Questions Only g = Fractional Gain = (Post% – Pre%)/(100% – Pre%)