Indicates a research-demonstrated benefit

Explorations in Physics

Overview

The Explorations in Physics Project is a major effort to increase the effectiveness of science education for future elementary school teachers, parents, and citizens by developing a sequence of introductory, activity-based, laboratory courses. We seek to integrate the use of guided-inquiry techniques with self-directed projects in order to help students acquire a more fundamental understanding of the nature of science.

	Type of Method	Full curriculum
	Level	Designed for: Intro College Conceptual
	Setting	Designed for: Studio
	Coverage	Few topics with great depth
	Topics	Mechanics, Waves / Optics, Thermal / Statistical
	Instructor Effort	Medium
	Resource Needs	Teaching Assistants / Learning Assistants, Computers for student use in class, Lab equipment for student use - professional, Tables arranged for group work, Studio classroom
	Skills	Designed for: Conceptual understanding of physics content, Think like a scientist, Coherent framework for physics, Understanding how physics relates to the real world, Self-confidence around physics, Laboratory skills, Designing experiments, Creativity
	Research Validation	Based on research into: how students learn, student ideas about specific topics Demonstrated to improve: scores on multiple choice conceptual tests, scores on written conceptual tests, beliefs about physics Studied using: conceptual pre/post exams, beliefs pre/post exams, student interviews
	Compatible Methods	PhET, Physlets, SCALE-UP, OSP, LA Program, MBL, CPU
	Similar Methods	Workshop Physics, SCALE-UP, MBL
	Developer(s)	David P. Jackson, Priscilla W. Laws, and Scott V. Franklin
	Website	http://physics.dickinson.edu/~eip_web/eip_homepage.html