Collaborative Proposal - Reforming Physics: Algebra-based Physics With Human Applications

微积分和物理教育的改革运动已经显示出积极方法在生动应用中提高学生概念理解的优势。研究表明，使用多媒体可以提高不同学生群体的学习效果。由美国国家科学基金会支持的数学跨课程项目已经显示了将数学嵌入其他学科的有效性。本计画将所有这些见解与有趣的人类物理应用结合在一起，以改革以代数为基础的物理课程。该项目正在开发一套完整的课程材料和背景物理笔记，可在各种机构环境中使用，为不同的学生受众提供改革后的基于代数的物理课程。除了人的应用之外，这些材料所鼓励的互动学习方法特别有助于使学生通过探究的方法学习。该项目的共同项目负责人来自UNL、德克萨斯理工大学、Mercy学院和Doane学院，他们正在数学顾问的帮助下开发内容主题。这些材料正在与评价顾问合作进行实地测试和评价。每个机构开发的材料正在其他合作机构进行实地测试，测试后的材料将供商业分发。到项目结束时，完全改革的基于代数的物理课程材料将以交互式多媒体和数学建模为支持的人文应用为特色，在全国范围内使用。将使用这些材料举办教员进修学院。将提倡使用这些材料以探究的方式学习物理概念。多媒体和数学建模材料的适当性为广泛的学生将被证明。

Physics (13) Reform movements in calculus and in physics education have shown the advantage of active methods in lively applications for improving students' conceptual understandings. Research has shown that the learning of diverse groups of students is enhanced by the use of multimedia. The Mathematics Across the Curriculum projects supported by the NSF have shown the efficacy of embedding mathematics within other disciplines. This project brings all of these insights together with interesting human applications of physics to reform the algebra- based physics course. This project is developing a complete set of course materials and background physics notes that can be used in a wide variety of institutional settings to offer a reformed algebra-based physics course to diverse student audiences. In addition to the human applications, the interactive learning methods encouraged by these materials are especially helpful to enable the students to learn by methods of inquiry. The project co-PIs at UNL, Texas Tech University, Mercy College and Doane College are developing content topics with the help of a mathematics consultant. The materials are being field-tested and assessed in cooperation with the evaluation consultant. Materials developed at each institution are being field-tested at the other cooperating institutions, and tested materials will be made available for commercial distribution. By the end of the project completely reformed algebra-based physics course materials featuring human applications supported by interactive multimedia and mathematical modeling will be available for use across the nation. Faculty enhancement institutes will be held using these materials. The use of these materials for the learning of physics concepts by inquiry methods will be advocated. The appropriateness of the multimedia and mathematical modeling materials for a wide range of students will be demonstrated.