Collaborative Project: Developing a tutorial approach to enhance student learning of intermediate mechanics

理科学生需要在入门级以上的课程中增加对概念和数学的理解。参加这些课程的未来的科学家、未来的中学科学教师和未来的工程师必须在大多数物理课上强调的数学推理和指导他们未来工作的物理直觉之间建立一座有效的桥梁。以过去的成功为模板，合作的PI正在开发中级力学教程，一套至少23个教程，包括铅笔和纸的概念教程（15），数学教程(4)和基于计算机的教程(4)，目的是加强中级力学的教学。每个教程都附有前测（未评分的测验）、家庭作业问题和后测（考试问题）。教程的设计允许在讲座、工作室、实验室或研讨会课程中灵活实施。智力优势：辅导课材料作为常规课堂教学的补充（而不是替代）。教材针对学生在学习物理时遇到的具体困难。有了适当的材料，就可以更好地理解学生在中级力学中的困难是什么，并提供有关困难的数据。物理教育研究（PER）数据不仅可以改进这些材料的未来版本，还可以帮助教师在课堂上使用其他类似材料。更广泛的影响：一套连贯的材料正在被创造出来，以便更有效地教授中级力学。这些材料可以接触到未来的科学家、教师和未来的大学教师。基于研究的开发工作可以为其他正在进行的PER调查提供信息。传播给感兴趣的物理教师可以帮助他们学习和使用创新的教学方法。

There is a need among science students for increased conceptual and mathematical understanding in courses beyond the introductory level. Future scientists, future secondary science teachers, and future engineers who take these courses must create an effective bridge between the mathematical reasoning emphasized in most physics classes and the physical intuition that will guide their future work. Using past success as a template, the collaborating PI's are developing Intermediate Mechanics Tutorials, a set of at least 23 tutorials, including pencil-and-paper conceptual tutorials (15), mathematical tutorials (4), and computer-based tutorials (4), for the purpose of enhancing instruction in intermediate mechanics. Each tutorial is accompanied by a pretest (ungraded quiz), homework problems, and post-tests (exam questions). Tutorials are designed to allow flexible implementation in lecture, studio, laboratory, or seminar courses. Intellectual Merit: Tutorial materials act as supplements to (rather than replacements of) regular lecture instruction. Materials address specific difficulties students have when learning the physics. Having the materials in place allows for greater understanding of what student difficulties in intermediate mechanics are, as well as providing data about the difficulties. Physics education research (PER) data not only can enhance future versions of these materials but also can help instructors using other similar materials in their classes.Broader impact: A coherent set of materials is being created for teaching intermediate mechanics more effectively. These materials can reach future scientists, teachers, and future university faculty. The research-based development work can inform other ongoing PER investigations. Dissemination to interested physics faculty members can help them learn about and utilize innovative teaching methods.