Action Research, Resources, Equipment for the Modeling Classroom

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Reports of Action Research

• What is Action Research About?
    A presentation by Larry Dukerich at W02 AAPT meeting
• Relativity - Colleen Megowan, Brian Bingham, Rich Runyon, Pam Herriman (see participants resources webpage)
• Action Research on Underpinnings for Physics - Jeff Hengesbach
• Formal reasoning test correlates with FCI posttest -- Christine Frank (8 pg article, 2003)
• Girls' preferences in high school physics -- Bruce Wyman (18 pg article 1999)
• Implementing Modeling Discourse Management in High School Physics -- John Crookston (47 pg AR Report, 2006: 350kB )
• Ninth Grade Physical Science Students' Achievements in Math Using a Modeling Curriculum -- JoAnn Deakin (18 pages, 2006; 130kb)
• Developing Kinematics Concepts Graphically -- Jim Archambault, Theresa Burch, Michael Crofton, Angela McClure (70 pages, 2008, 612kB) Brief version (57 pages, 500kB) strip problems, Unit 2 worksheet, Unit 3 worksheet
• Teaching Math Concepts Within a Science Context - Adrian Boyarsky, Russ Bray, & Mark Henrion (77 pages, 2009)
• Alternative Energy in High School Physics: Biodiesel Project/Practicum - Josh Clearman (44 pages, 2011)
• Mindset of Physics Students: Correlation with Conceptual Development - David Flores, Allison Lemons, & Holly McTernon (60 pages, 2011)

Doctoral Dissertations and Masters Degree Theses

• Modeling Instruction in High School Physics (150kB, 29 pages of excerpts; dissertation 1987)--Malcolm Wells
• Modeling Discourse Management -- Dwain Desbien (107 pg dissertation 2002: 288KB) 24-page excerpt
• Inclusion of the energy thread in college modeling instruction (182 pg dissertation 2002) -- Eric Brewe
• Proportional reasoning I: empirical study -- Shannon Mclaughlin (20 pg article adapted from thesis, 2003)
• Proportional reasoning II: theoretical background -- Shannon Mclaughlin (14 pg article 2003)
• Perceptions of physics teachers who have participated in a constructivist in-service experience -- Walter Snow (227 pg dissertation 2002) (A study of six modelers)
• Modeling-style labs in college physics - Glen Davenport (54 pages, 2005, University of Maine)
• Modeling Instruction and the nature of science (79 pg thesis 2005) -- Jon Fishwild
• The effect of a science core sequence reform on students' attitudes toward science (A Physics First sequence using Modeling Instruction resulted in increased enrollment in advanced science courses) -- Douglas Mountz (100 pg dissertation 2006: 500kB)
• Cognitive and metacognitive differences between modeling and non-modeling high school physics students (164-pg dissertation 2006 1MB) -- Kathy Malone
• Effectiveness of Physics First in Maine (Modeling Instruction and traditional instruction)--Michael O'Brien (87-pg thesis 2006:475kB)
• Framing Discourse for Optimal Learning in Science and Mathematics (Modeling Instruction from grade 8 to college)--M.Colleen Megowan (157-pg dissertation 2007. 6MB-large file!) ckozumplik@aol.com Excerpts 1: introduction 2: zooming out 3: graph vs procedure 4: what whiteboards don't say 5: Greek chorus 6: small group dynamics 7: whole class discussion 8: conclusion, suggestions
  
• Transforming Teacher Knowledge (a study of six modelers' practice)--Lloyd "Nick" Cabot (135-pg dissertation 2008 1MB)
  

Energy: Instructional Resources and Presentations

• Cognitive Resources for Understanding Energy (42 pages, 2005: 1.1MB)
    Gregg Swackhamer's draft paper on how poorly energy is conceptualized and how we can improve.
• Dimensions of Energy Gregg Swackhamer's 2-page definition of energy in terms of many statements about it.
• Energy Concept Inventory
    Gregg Swackhamer's PowerPoint presentation at Summer-03 AAPT meeting
• Temperature, Heating, and Thermal Energy -- Sorting Things Out! (12 pages, 2003)
    Patricia Westphal adds to Gregg Swackhamer's thoughts on energy storage and transfer.
• A Coherent Approach to Energy
    Larry Dukerich's PowerPoint presentation at Summer-03 AAPT meeting

Other Instructional Resources

• System Schemas, by Lou Turner (6 pages, 2003)
    Draft of Lou's article published in The Physics Teacher
• Using the System Schema Representational Tool to Promote Student Understanding of Newton’s Third Law, by Brant Hinrichs (4 pages, 2004)
• Experimental Design and Graphical Analysis of Data, by Rex Rice and Mark Schober (13 pages, 2000)
• Gender, Text, and Discussion: Examining Intellectual Safety in the Science Classroom by Barbara Guzzetti and Wayne Williams. A case study on how to create gender equity in a modeling classroom.
• Effect of HS Physics Classroom on Female Learners, by Laura Robertson 43-pg paper, 4-pg article
• Articles by Edward Wyrembeck, an expert modeler in Wisconsin:
• Investigating an Aerial Image , co-author: Jeff Elmer (5 pages, 3.4 MB, 2006)
• Modeling the Behavior of Light with a Light Cone (1 page, 2006)
• Inductively Modeling Parallel, Normal, and Frictional Forces (4 pages, 2005)
• A Student-Centered Interactive Color Quiz (3 pages, 2003)
• Teaching Kepler's laws as more than empirical statements, by Ellis Noll (6 pages, 2002)
• Rounding Up Students' Conceptions on Circular Motion, by Mr. Shannon McLaughlin (9 pages, 2006)
• Graphs as a Problem-Solving Tool in 1-D Kinematics, by Dwain Desbien (3 pages, 2008)
• A Simple Demonstration of Back emf, by Lou Turner (TPT, 3 pgs, 2009)
• Teaching Cell Phones & Wireless Communications, by Mark Davids, Don Pata, & Rick Forrest (TPT, 5 pgs, 2010)

9th Grade Resources

• Scientific Thinking in Experimental Settings by a team of 5 modelers at Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh (11 pages, 2006)
  
• Financial Asset model of energy (for 8th or 9th grade) by Patricia Westphal (4 pages, 2002)
• Rex Rice, a modeling workshop leader, has posted many Physics First resources on the St. Louis area Physics Teachers (SLAPT) website.
• Earl Legleiter's PowerPoint on how he implemented Physics First at his public school in Kansas.

Advanced Placement Physics, Chemistry, Calculus

Real-World Applications, Engineering

• Paul Bianchi's energy project
• Art Zadrozny's alternative energy project
• Engineering & Science shared modeling cycle (by Andrew Stillman)
• Robotics courses: resources (compiled by Bob Warzeski)
• Brenda Gelinas' nuclear fallout project in chemistry (done after tthe Fukushima disaster in 2011)

Assessment in Modeling Instruction

• Formative assessment in Modeling Instruction by Larry Dukerich (2 pgs, good for administrators 2010) (.doc)
• Reflective Modeling: Journaling (including a rubric) and testing for reflection, by Kathy Malone (5 pages, 2005)
• Student perceptions of Modeling Instruction: a survey by Allison Lide
• Why You should Measure Your Students' Reasoning Ability, by Jeff Steinert (an expert modeler), V.Coletta, J.Phillips (4 pages, 2007)
• Scientific Reasoning Skills - Dr. Philip Adey, Director, Centre for the Advancement of Thinking, Univ. of London, England (a PowerPoint presentation to 75 modelers at ASU in July 2003)
• RTOP: classroom evaluation for formative assessment, evidence of inquiry, pedagogical content knowledge. By Paul Hickman, Drew Isola, & Mark Reif (2010). .doc
• (weblink) DIAGNOSER: research-based formative assessment on the web, for middle school & high school physics, chemistry, physical science, & math.
• (weblink) Diagnoser Project: Jim Minstrell and Pam Kraus' site. Evaluation tools, diagnostic learning environment, references, research publications.
• ConcepTests and Paul Hewitt's NextTime Questions are used by some modelers and in peer instruction. View a list of URLs in sciences and math. Download

Discourse in the Modeling Classroom

• Whiteboarding: a learning process - Don Yost (2 page article, 2003)
• Modeling discourse:
• excerpts from Ph.D. dissertations of Dwain Desbien and Colleen Megowan Excerpts 1: introduction 2: zooming out 3: graph vs procedure 4: what whiteboards don't say 5: Greek chorus 6: small group dynamics 7: whole class discussion 8: conclusion, suggestions
• PowerPoint presentation by Matt Greenwolfe. Strategies to convince students to value and use models.
• Practice the Model problems by Matt Greenwolfe and Mark Reif.
• Rules of the Whiteboard Circle, by John Griffith
• Facilitating Discourse: A 54-page compilation of expert modelers' quotes on classroom discourse. By Mark Lattery and Jim Schmitt (972KB, 2004)
• (weblink) Whiteboarding in the college & HS classroom - Dan MacIsaac
• Question Their Answers - Brenda Royce (2-page article,TPT 2004)
• Questioning Strategies for K-12 Science (7-page article from California K-12 Alliance inspired by Don Yost's many K-12 workshops, 2006)
• Using Interactive Whiteboarding to Enhance Student Learning -Patty Blanton (2-page article, TPT 2008

Students' Naive Conceptions

• Preconceptions in Mechanics (description), by Charles Camp & John Clement (2nd ed., 2009) Order from the AAPT. Click on "store" then search on "preconceptions".
• Force Conception taxonomy (Hestenes, 1992)
  
• Motion Conception taxonomy (Hestenes & Halloun, 1985)
• Beyond Appearances: Students' Misconceptions about Basic Chemical Ideas, by Vanessa Barker Kind (78 pgs, Royal Chemical Society)
• Alternate Conceptions in Chemistry, by Christopher Horton (78 pages, Updated March 2009)
• (weblink) Biology alternative conceptions in K-16, by Kathleen Fisher's group at San Diego State University

Whiteboards

• Helpful hints on buying and maintaining whiteboards - Jane Jackson
• PLAYSCAPES whiteboards: comments on durability, cleaning, and maintenance (Word doc)
• PLAYSCAPES whiteboards: order form (2010; pdf)
• (weblink) WHITEBOARDS U.S.A, Inc.: Buy whiteboards from Carl Wenning, a modeler in Illinois. Much info on w/b use, cleaning, Socratic dialogue.
• Whiteboard Stand: a product to buy from a modeler in Kansas.

Lab Equipment & Technology for the Modeling Classroom

• Mechanics lab supplies and classroom technology (7 pages, 2008).
• Mechanics probeware (Vernier) for 9th grade physics modeling instruction (2006)
• Equipment to start up a Modeling Physics classroom (1999)
• Pasco probeware for modeling physics (2006), suggested by Sean McKeever, a physics modeler and Pasco product expert.
• CASTLE electricity lab supplies list from Rex & Debbie Rice (2010)
• Electrostatics lab supplies list from Rex & Debbie Rice (2010).
• (weblink) E&M lab supplies list from Michael Crofton (2010).
• (weblink) Models of Light lab supplies list from Mark Schober (2010).
• Chemistry probes, supplies & equipment list from Larry Dukerich & Brenda Royce (2009)
• Physical science lab supplies list from Pat Burr & Lee Rodgers (2009)

Lab Equipment to Make

• Constant velocity apparatus to make, from Rex Rice and Don Rose (2010).
• (weblink) Models of Light lab equipment to make, from Mark Schober (2010).
• (weblink) photoelectric effect apparatus to make at low cost, from Rex and Mark.
• (weblink) spectroscopes: 40 cardboard spectroscopes from $7.00. (2010: "I've built them in my class for years, they are great, and cheap enough the kids can keep them.")
• (weblink) Low-cost/build it yourself lab equipment, modeling-style labs, video analysis, and lab practica by Rex Rice and others can be downloaded on the St. Louis Area Physics Teachers (SLAPT) website.
• Build a no-cost soda-straw balance (400kB .ppt) for all labs in Unit 3 of physical science modeling curriculum.
• Build a dynamics ramp: Malcolm Wells' specs; pictures 1 2 3 4 5 6; instructions
• (weblink) Low-cost/build it yourself lab equipment from UNESCO. (Click on teaching materials.)

Renovations

• (weblink) Bob Morse's recommendations for renovating a physics classroom/lab
• Matt Greenwolfe's modeling classroom layout.
  Matt wrote: "Class size is less than or equal to 20, so in the U-shaped boardroom arrangement (sitting around the blue tables in the center), all of the students sit in the front row, with the whiteboards propped up on the lab tables behind them (the brown tables). This way I can conduct circle whiteboarding in every class."
• Steve Skinner's recommendations for renovating the physics classroom. and Larry Dukerich's modifications for Modeling Instruction

Grants for Instructional Technology, Improved Instruction, Modeling Workshops

• List of grant sources for K-12 science teachers (2010)
  
• Grant guide (old but useful)
• (weblink) Vernier, Inc. grant guide, list of funding sources & articles supporting classroom technology
• Classroom technology: sample proposal
  
• CASTLE electricity: sample proposal
• How you can get classroom technology

Course enrollment, College, Career Resources

• Increasing Physics Enrollment at your School , by Earl Barrett (The Physics Teacher, 2009)
  

Research Summaries (see also the webpage weblinks for modelers)

• Chinn & Brewer: Anomalous Data , compiled by Bud Nye. Several ways that people resist changing their conceptions, mental models, worldviews.
  
• Daniel Schwartz & John Bransford: A Time for Telling, compiled by Bud Nye. Students must learn how to make distinctions; discern similarities and differences, before they can learn from lectures.
  
• Daniel Willingham: Why Students don't like School , compiled by Bud Nye. A cognitive scientist answers questions about how the mind works and what it means for the classroom.
• Beth Lindsey, Paula Heron & Peter Shaffer: Student understanding of energy: Difficulties related to systems . Potential energy must be assigned to a system of multiple objects, never to a single object.
• Anita Wooley and M.I.T. group: Evidence for Collective Intelligence Factor in the Performance of Human Groups. A key factor in Modeling Instruction.
  

  

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  This page is maintained by Jane Jackson

  last modified April 16, 2012