Active Construction and Application of Conceptual Models

过去二十年的研究表明，传统的物理教学未能改变学生的另类概念(误解)，提高他们解决问题的专业知识，并帮助学生形成一个连贯的知识结构，在需要时可以有效地访问。最近的物理教育实验表明，我们可以做得更好。在这些实验中，学生积极参与构建自己的知识和开发专家式的策略来解决标准和复杂的问题。在这个项目中，正在构建和评估两套新的主动学习辅助工具，包括一套概念建构实验和一套实验问题。这些活动被用于工程师和理科专业的大型物理入门课程的讲课、复习和实验室教学。这些工具包正在与以前开发的主动学习纸笔活动结合在一起，形成一个连贯的物理教学计划，称为OCS(概述，案例研究)行动物理。正在编写《主动学习学生学习指南》和《实验室手册》，作为对传统教科书的补充。正在进行协调努力，帮助学生构建自己的概念模型，发展使用这些模型解决复杂问题所需的个人技能，并帮助学生将这些知识(概念和程序)组织成一个可以有效获取的连贯结构。以前和现在的工作都显示出这种教学方法的相当大的前景。

Research during the last two decades has shown that conventional physics instruction fails to alter student alternative conceptions (misconceptions), to improve their problem-solving expertise, and to help students form a coherent knowledge structure that can be effectively accessed when needed. Recent experiments in physics education show that we can do much better. In these experiments, students are active participants in constructing their own knowledge and in developing expert-like strategies to solve standard and complex problems. In this project, two new sets of active learning aides are being constructed and evaluated, including a set of Concept Construction Experiments and a set of Experiment Problems. These activities are being used in lecture, recitation, and laboratory instruction in large introductory physics classes for engineers and science majors. The kits are being integrated with previously developed active learning pencil- and-paper activities into a coherent program of physics instruction called OCS (Overview, Case Study) Action Physics. An Active Learning Student Study Guide and Laboratory Manual are being prepared to supplement a conventional textbook. A coordinated effort is being made to help students construct their own conceptual models, to develop the individual skills needed to use those models to solve complex problems, and to help students organize this knowledge (conceptual and procedural) into a coherent structure that can be accessed effectively. Previous and current work have shown considerable promise for this method of instruction.