July 26–30, 2014
37
the generative and flexible use of mathematics. Through sequences of tasks,
students make sense of physical quantities and laws, work that prepares
them for future instruction and learning. An important feature is students’
invention of algebraic descriptions of systems and phenomena. Participants
will learn about the theoretical underpinnings of invention instruction*
and gain experience with tested and freely web-available Physics Invention
Tasks. Participants will also develop their own invention tasks and learn to
modify large and small group activities to explicitly promote flexible and
generative mathematical reasoning. Such reasoning is consistent with the
NGSS science and engineering practices, but is often not well developed in
traditional courses.
*D. Schwartz and J. Bransford, “A time for telling,”
Cog. Instr
.
16
(4), 475 (1998)
.
W32: New RTP and ILD Tools and Curricula: Video Analysis,
Clickers, and E&M Labs
Sponsor: Committee on Educational Technologies
Co-sponsor: Committee on Research in Physics Education
Time: 8 a.m.–12 p.m. Sunday
Member Price: $75
Non-Member Price: $100
Location: Tate 225
David Sokoloff, Department of Physics, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
97403-1274;
Priscilla Laws, Ronald Thornton
RealTime Physics (RTP) and Interactive Lecture Demonstrations (ILDs)
have been available for over 15 years—so what’s new? The third edition of
RTP includes five new labs on basic electricity and magnetism in Module
3 as well a new approach to projectile motion in Module 1. Some of these
new labs make use of video analysis. Also new are clicker-based ILDs. This
hands-on workshop is designed for those who want to make effective use
of active learning with computer-based tools in their introductory courses.
These active learning approaches for lectures, labs, and recitations (tutori-
als) are based on physics education research (PER). The following will be
distributed: Modules from the Third Edition of RTP, the ILD book, the
Physics with Video Analysis book and CD, and
Teaching Physics with the
Physics Suite
by E.F. Redish.
W33: PIRA Demonstration Workshop II
Sponsor: Committee on Apparatus
Time: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday
Member Price: $115
Non-Member Price: $140
Location: Tate 150
Dale Stille, Rm 58 Van Allen Hall, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University
of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242;
Sam Sampere
Topics in this workshop cover the standard second semester of physics in-
struction from E&M to Modern plus Astronomy. It is taught by an experi-
enced team of lecture demonstrators. The format allows for and encourages
interplay between instructors and participants. It is recommended that
both Lecture Demonstrations 1 and 2 be taken as this will cover the com-
plete year of demonstrations needed for a typical course. The demonstra-
tions used and exhibited will be based on, but not limited to, the PIRA top
200 list of demonstrations. See
for more info
on this list. Please note that this workshop is intended to expose as many
demonstrations and ideas as possible to the participants. Since we will be
doing approximately 100 demos during this workshop, time restraints DO
NOT allow for extensive or in depth discussions of each demonstration.
We will make every effort to answer all questions and concerns.
W34: Research-based Alternatives to Traditional Physics
Problems
Sponsor: Committee on Research in Physics Education
Time: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday
Member Price: $80
Non-Member Price: $105
Location: STSS 117
Kathy Harper, Engineering Education Innovation Center, 244 Hitchcock Hall,
2070 Neil Ave., Columbus, OH 43210;
Thomas M. Foster, David P. Maloney
Accumulating research on problem solving in physics clearly indicates that
traditional, end-of-chapter exercises in physics texts are not useful and
may actually hinder students’ learning of important physics concepts. The
research also raises questions about the efficacy of such tasks for helping
students develop “problem-solving skills.” In light of these results the
question is: What alternative tasks can we use to help students develop
problem-solving skills and a conceptual understanding? This workshop
will review the research and then provide examples of several alternative
tasks and their use. Participants will also get practice writing alternative
problems in a variety of formats for use in their own classrooms.
W35: Advanced Labs
Sponsor: Committee on Laboratories
Time: 1–5 p.m. Sunday
Member Price: $85
Non-Member Price: $110
Location: Tate 65
Jeremiah Williams, Physics Department, Wittenberg University, PO Box 720,
Springfield, OH 45504;
This workshop is appropriate for college and university instructional
laboratory developers. At each of five stations, presenters will demonstrate
an approach to an intermediate or advanced laboratory exercise. Each pre-
senter will show and discuss the apparatus and techniques used. Attendees
will cycle through the stations and have an opportunity to use each ap-
paratus. Documentation will be provided for each experiment, with sample
data, equipment lists, and construction or purchase information.
W36: Cosmology in the Classroom
Sponsor: Committee on Space Science and Astronomy
Time: 1–5 p.m. Sunday
Member Price: $60
Non-Member Price: $85
Location: STSS 530B
Daniel Smith, South Carolina State University, 300 College St. NE, Orange-
burg, SC 29115;
Kim Coble
Recent observations, and advances in computation and visualization,
have led to a revolution in our understanding of the structure, composi-
tion, and evolution of the universe. Experts should not be the only ones,
however, who understand the physics and data that provide overwhelming
evidence for Big Bang cosmology and its dark matter-dark energy exten-
sions. In the first part of the workshop we will present (1) our research on
common alternate student conceptions in cosmology, and (2) interactive
web-based exercises from a curriculum that helps students to master the
scientific concepts and processes leading to our current understanding of
the universe. In the second part, we will present classroom-tested labs on
the Large Scale Structure, featuring data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey,
as well as a Cosmic Microwave Background lab utilizing data from the
Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe. Participants should bring their
own laptops with spreadsheet software and Adobe Flash installed. (Sup-
ported by NSF PAARE, AST-0750814, and the South Carolina Space Grant
Consortium/NASA EPSCor.)
W37: LEAP: Learner-Centered Environment for Algebra-
based Physics*
Sponsor: Committee on Research in Physics Education
Time: 1–5 p.m. Sunday
Member Price: $60
Non-Member Price: $85
Location: STSS 432A
Paula Engelhardt, Tennessee Technological University, 110 University Drive,
Bruner Hall, Room 227, Cookeville, TN 38505;
Steve Robinson
The Learner-Centered Environment for Algebra-based Physics (LEAP) is a
newly developed, two-semester physics curriculum for algebra-based phys-
ics appropriate for both university and high school settings. The pedagogy
and activity sequence is guided by research on student learning of physics
and builds on the work of the NSF-supported project, Physics for Everyday
