Devleopment of a Discovery Approach for an Introductory Level Physics Course

在过去的三年里，我们一直在为非理科专业的学生开发和提供一门创新的课程--《发现物理》。我们现在正在将我们一直采取的方法扩大到小学/中学水平和标准的大学理科专业物理序列，其中包括“发现技术和小组”复杂教学环境的元素。最初的课程将扩展到两个学期，并特别针对计划进入大学预科教学的学生；还强调现任教师的积极参与，作为大学与伍斯特公立学校之间发展伙伴关系的重要组成部分。本课程将继续强调通过直接体验以及通过仔细考虑这些体验而形成的概念来理解自然；我们继续鼓励学生提问：我们是如何知道的……？和“我们为什么相信……？”关于物理现象的问题。我们的计划欢迎男性和女性学生以及来自传统上在科学领域代表性不足的群体的学生，并取得了成功。为了促进广泛的、全国性的影响，正在制作一本“发现工作簿”、一本教师手册以及相关的软件。一个优秀的顾问团队正在这个项目的各个方面与我们合作。

For the past three years, we have been developing and offering an innovative course, "Discovering Physics," for non- science majors. We are now broadening the approach we have been taking, which includes elements of the "discovery technique and the small-group "complex instruction" learning environment, to both the elementary/middle school level and the standard college science-major physics sequence. The original course is being expanded to two semesters, and is being aimed especially at students planning to go into precollege teaching; active participation of current teachers is also being emphasized, as an important part of the developing partnership between the University and the Worcester Public Schools. The course will retain its stress on understanding nature through direct experience and the concepts which grow out of careful consideration of these experiences; we are continuing to encourage students to ask "How do we know...?" and "Why do we believe...?" questions about physical phenomena. Our program welcomes, and has been successful with both male and female students and students from groups traditionally under- represented in science. To promote a broad, national impact, are producing a "discovery workbook," a teacher's manual, and associated software. An outstanding group of consultants is working with us in the various aspects of this project.