Investigation of Conceptual Understanding in Classical and Modern Physics with Application to Materials Development andInstruction of Precollege Teachers

该奖项为华盛顿大学物理系物理教育小组开展的一个为期三年的项目提供支持。该项目由三个相互关联的部分组成：1)调查学生对古典和现代物理关键概念的理解；2)将研究成果应用于为大学预科教师编写教材；以及3)在职教师教育计划，以测试教材并为教师讲授物理和物理科学做准备。还将开发适合中小学教师的版本。在职计划与大学支持的一项服务计划密切协调。该项目将由一个国家咨询小组指导，该小组的专门知识突出需要完成的工作的全面性。研究部分的重点将是经典物理学中理解现代物理学所必需的主题，如相对运动和参照系、波和物理光学以及电学和磁学。这些研究人员还计划检查20世纪物理学中选定的主题中的概念理解，特别是那些证明经典思想不足的主题。调查将集中在大学预科教师身上，也将包括物理系提供的各种入门课程的学生。本研究的结果将用于指导教材的开发，以加强大学预科教师的准备。这些材料将以印刷教学模块、交互式计算机程序的形式，以及为教授职前和在职课程的大学教职员工提供的辅导员指南。设计、测试和修改将在物理教育集团实施的教师教育计划的背景下进行。与以前的项目一样，开发过程将包括在其他机构进行试点测试。教师培训和加强司以及材料开发、研究和非正规科学教育司正在提供联合支助。

This award provides support for a three-year project to be conducted by the Physics Education Group in the Physics Department at the University of Washington. The project consists of three interrelated components: 1) an investigation of student understanding of key concepts in classical and modern physics, 2) the application of research results to the development of instructional materials for precollege teachers, and 3) an inservice teacher education program for testing instructional materials and for preparing teachers to teach physics and physical science. A version appropriate for elementary and middle school teachers will also be developed. The inservice program is closely coordinated with a preservice program supported by the university. The project will be guided by a national advisory group with expertise salient to the comprehensive nature of the work to be accomplished. The emphasis in the research component will be on topics from classical physics necessary for understanding modern physics, such as relative motion and frames of references, waves and physical optics, and electricity and magnetism. These investigators also plan to examine conceptual understanding in selected topics from twentieth century physics, especially those that demonstrate the inadequacy of classical ideas. The investigation will focus on precollege teachers and will also include students from the various introductory courses offered by the Physics Department. Results from this research will be used to guide the development of instructional materials for strengthening the preparation of precollege teachers. The materials will be in the form of printed instructional modules, interactive computer programs, and accompanying instructor's guides for university faculty conducting preservice and inservice courses. Design, testing, and revision will take place in the context of the teacher education program conducted by Physics Education group. As in previous projects, the development process will include pilot-testing at other institutions. Joint support is being provided by the Division of Teacher Preparation and Enhancement and the Division of Materials Development, Research and Informal Science Education.