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

该奖项为一个为期三年的项目提供支持， 大学物理系物理教育组 在华盛顿。 该项目包括三个相互关联的组成部分： 1)调查学生对关键概念的理解， 古典和现代物理学，2）研究成果的应用， 为学前教师编写教学材料， 3)一个在职教师教育计划， 教材和准备教师教物理和物理 科学 适合中小学的版本 还将培养教师。 在职培训计划与 与该大学支持的一个志愿者项目协调。 的 该项目将由一个具有专门知识的国家咨询小组指导 突出了要完成的工作的全面性。 在研究部分的重点将是从古典主题 理解现代物理学所必需的物理学，如相对论 运动和参照系，波和物理光学，以及 电和磁。 这些调查人员还计划检查 世纪概念理解 物理学，尤其是那些证明经典物理学不足的物理学， 想法. 调查将集中在学前教师和将 还包括学生从各种介绍课程提供的 物理系。 这项研究的结果将用于 指导编写教学材料， 培养学前教师。 这些材料将以 印刷的教学模块，交互式计算机程序， 大学教师指导教师指南 进修和在职课程。 设计、测试和修订将 在教师教育计划的背景下进行， 物理教育组。 与以往的项目一样， 该过程将包括在其他机构进行试点测试。 教师培训处正在提供联合支助 材料开发、研究和改进司 非正式科学教育。

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.