Using the computer in teaching physics: Can it really help students learn?
Outline
A personal odyssey: How did I get here from there?
PPT Slide
The three C’s
Pedagogy: The critical item in educational software
Integrating hardware, software, and wetware
Using the computer effectively: How do we know if it works?
Velocity Graphs
Instantaneous velocity problem
There’s a problem — but a solution exists
A PER Experiment
The MBL improved the graph reading substantially
Newton 3
An MBL experiment allows a powerful demonstration of N3
Wave Motion
Using the computer to display video can slow down wave phenomena to let students figure out what’s really happening.
Instructional Design
Pre-Instruction Responses
Post-Instruction Responses
Projects
Computer technology makes student research feasible
Some M.U.P.P.E.T. Student Projects
The problem with projects
Conclusion
The computer can be an effective tool in helping students learn.
Using the computer effectively in instruction is not trivial
Email: redish@physics.umd.edu
Home Page: http://www2.physics.umd.edu/~redish/redish.html
Other information: Invited talk presented at the AAPT meeting in Anaheim CA, January 11, 1999