Development of Research-Based Curriculum to Improve Student Learning in Physics

该项目的主要目标是提高所有选修本科物理课程的学生的学习水平。为了实现这一目标，物理教育组将制作一套相辅相成的教学材料，用于：(1)理工科专业的物理入门课程（以微积分和代数为基础），(2)物理专业的低年级和高年级课程，(3)面向未来K-12教师的物理课程，(4)面向非科学专业的物理课程，(5)面向在科学和数学方面准备不足但渴望从事科学相关职业的学生（特别是那些来自少数族裔的学生）的课程。该计划由三个相互依存的部分组成：(a)课程的发展和评估，(b)物理学与教的研究，以及(c)教师发展。第一部分包括开发两种相互关联的教学材料：“本科物理教程”和“探究式物理”。两者都借鉴并扩展了该小组以前开发的课程，这些课程已被证明在各种教学环境中对不同的学生群体有效。该项目满足了对本科物理教学的额外教程和K-12教师准备模块的需求。本项目教程部分的主要材料是：适用于代数、微积分和荣誉物理课程的《物理导论》版本；“物理入门中解决问题的教程”和“物理入门以外的教程”。该项目中与K-12教师准备相关的部分的主要材料基于国家科学教育标准中的主题，这些主题未包括在“探究物理”的出版版本中。新模块包括经典物理和物理科学的主题，对现有模块的修订，以及现代物理主题的新模块。二级教学材料正在同时开发，以增加初级材料对不同学生群体和教学环境的适应性。对学生学习的持续评估将是课程开发过程中每个阶段的特征。研究结果不仅将为本项目课程的发展提供信息，而且将有助于建立一个研究基地，作为国内和国际资源。商业出版物将确保所编写的课程在全国分发。系统的师资发展将促进教材的传播，并协助教师采用教材。

Physics (13) The primary goal of the project is the improvement of learning for all students who take undergraduate physics. To help achieve this goal, the Physics Education Group will produce a suite of mutually reinforcing instructional materials for: (1) introductory physics courses for science and engineering majors (calculus-based and algebra-based), (2) lower and upper division courses for physics majors, (3) physics courses for future K-12 teachers, (4) physics courses for non-science majors, and (5) courses for students underprepared in science and mathematics who aspire to science-related careers (especially those from underrepresented minority groups).The project consists of three interdependent components: (a) development and assessment of curriculum, (b) research on the learning and teaching of physics, and (c) faculty development. The first component consists of the development of two interrelated types of instructional materials: "Tutorials in Undergraduate Physics" and "Physics by Inquiry." Both draw upon and expand on previous curriculum developed by the group that have been shown to be effective with different student populations in a variety of instructional settings. The project responds to the need for additional tutorials for undergraduate instruction in physics and modules for the preparation of K-12 teachers. The primary materials in the tutorial part of the project are: versions of "Tutorials in Introductory Physics" suitable for the algebra-based, calculus-based and honors physics courses; "Tutorials on Problem-solving in Introductory Physics;" and "Tutorials beyond Introductory Physics." The primary materials in the part of the project that pertains to the preparation of K-12 teachers are based on topics in the National Science Education Standards that are not included in the published version of "Physics by Inquiry." The new modules include topics in classical physics and physical science, revisions of existing modules, and new modules on topics in modern physics. Secondary instructional materials are being developed concurrently that increase the adaptability of the primary materials to different student populations and instructional settings.Ongoing assessment of student learning will characterize every stage of the curriculum development process. Results from research will not only inform the development of curriculum in this project but will also contribute to a research base that serves as a national and international resource. Commercial publication will ensure that the curriculum produced will be nationally distributed. Systematic faculty development will enhance dissemination of the materials and provide assistance to instructors in adopting the materials.