Indicates a research-demonstrated benefit

Context-Rich Problems

Overview

Students work in small groups on short realistic scenarios giving them a plausible motivation for solving the problem; more complex than traditional problems, reflecting the real world, and may include excess information, or require the student to recall important background information.

	Type of Method	Curriculum supplement
	Level	Designed for: Intro College Calculus-based Can be adapted for: High School, Intro College Algebra-based, Intro College Conceptual
	Setting	Designed for: Recitation/Discussion Session Can be adapted for: Lecture - Small (<30 students), Studio
	Coverage	Many topics with less depth
	Topics	Mechanics, Electricity / Magnetism, Waves / Optics, Thermal / Statistical
	Instructor Effort	Medium
	Resource Needs	Tables arranged for group work
	Skills	Designed for: Problem-solving skills, Conceptual understanding of physics content, Connecting conceptual and mathematical understanding, Coherent framework for physics Can be adapted for: Understanding how physics relates to the real world, Think like a scientist
	Research Validation	Based on research into: how students learn, student ideas about specific topics Demonstrated to improve: scores on multiple choice conceptual tests, traditional problem-solving ability Studied using: conceptual pre/post exams, problem-solving pre/post exams, classroom observations
	Compatible Methods	Peer Instruction, PhET, UW Tutorials, JiTT, Ranking Tasks, ILDs, CGPS, Physlets, RealTime Physics, TIPERs, ABP Tutorials, SCALE-UP, OSP, SDI Labs, OST Tutorials, Thinking Problems, Workbook for Introductory Physics, LA Program, CAE TPS, Lecture-Tutorials, Astro Ranking Tasks, MBL, CPU, SCL, TEFA, Tools for Scientific Thinking, M&I, Tutorials, Clickers
	Similar Method	CGPS
	Developer(s)	University of Minnesota Physics Education Research Group
	Website	http://groups.physics.umn.edu/physed/Research/CRP/crintro.html