Computational Thinking for Physics: Programming Models of Physics Phenomenon in Elementary School
written by
Hilary A. Dwyer, Bryce Boe, Charlotte Hill, Diana Franklin, and Danielle B. Harlow
Computational thinking, an approach to problem solving, is a key practice of science education rarely integrated into instruction in an authentic way. A second key practice, creating models of physical phenomenon, has been recognized as an important strategy for facilitating students' deeper understandings of both science concepts and the practices of science. We are creating an interdisciplinary computational thinking curriculum for grades 4-6 that combines the development of computational thinking with content in other disciplines such as science. Here we present an example project where students can iteratively develop a model to explain the momentum and acceleration of an object, coupled with sophisticated computational thinking concepts to simulate that model. In addition, we present two findings from related research on fourth graders' pre-instructional knowledge related to computational thinking: 1) Students recognized the need for but struggled to produce specific instructions, and 2) Students understood that small errors could change outcomes.
Physics Education Research Conference 2013
Part of the PER Conference series Portland, OR: July 17-18, 2013 Pages 133-136
ComPADRE is beta testing Citation Styles!
![]() <a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=13126">Dwyer, H, B. Boe, C. Hill, D. Franklin, and D. Harlow. "Computational Thinking for Physics: Programming Models of Physics Phenomenon in Elementary School." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2013, Portland, OR, July 17-18, 2013.</a>
![]() H. Dwyer, B. Boe, C. Hill, D. Franklin, and D. Harlow, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2013, Portland, OR, 2013, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13126&DocID=3675).
![]() H. Dwyer, B. Boe, C. Hill, D. Franklin, and D. Harlow, Computational Thinking for Physics: Programming Models of Physics Phenomenon in Elementary School, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2013, Portland, OR, 2013, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13126&DocID=3675>.
![]() Dwyer, H., Boe, B., Hill, C., Franklin, D., & Harlow, D. (2013, July 17-18). Computational Thinking for Physics: Programming Models of Physics Phenomenon in Elementary School. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2013, Portland, OR. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13126&DocID=3675
![]() Dwyer, H, B. Boe, C. Hill, D. Franklin, and D. Harlow. "Computational Thinking for Physics: Programming Models of Physics Phenomenon in Elementary School." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2013, Portland, OR, July 17-18, 2013. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13126&DocID=3675 (accessed 1 May 2025).
![]() Dwyer, Hilary A., Bryce Boe, Charlotte Hill, Diana Franklin, and Danielle Harlow. "Computational Thinking for Physics: Programming Models of Physics Phenomenon in Elementary School." Physics Education Research Conference 2013. Portland, OR: 2013. 133-136 of PER Conference. 1 May 2025 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13126&DocID=3675>.
![]() @inproceedings{
Author = "Hilary A. Dwyer and Bryce Boe and Charlotte Hill and Diana Franklin and Danielle Harlow",
Title = {Computational Thinking for Physics: Programming Models of Physics Phenomenon in Elementary School},
BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2013},
Pages = {133-136},
Address = {Portland, OR},
Series = {PER Conference},
Month = {July 17-18},
Year = {2013}
}
![]() %A Hilary A. Dwyer %A Bryce Boe %A Charlotte Hill %A Diana Franklin %A Danielle Harlow %T Computational Thinking for Physics: Programming Models of Physics Phenomenon in Elementary School %S PER Conference %D July 17-18 2013 %P 133-136 %C Portland, OR %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13126&DocID=3675 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2013 %O July 17-18 %O application/pdf ![]() %0 Conference Proceedings %A Dwyer, Hilary A. %A Boe, Bryce %A Hill, Charlotte %A Franklin, Diana %A Harlow, Danielle %D July 17-18 2013 %T Computational Thinking for Physics: Programming Models of Physics Phenomenon in Elementary School %B Physics Education Research Conference 2013 %C Portland, OR %P 133-136 %S PER Conference %8 July 17-18 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13126&DocID=3675 Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.
Citation Source Information
The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual. The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References. The Chicago Style presented is based on information from Examples of Chicago-Style Documentation. The MLA Style presented is based on information from the MLA FAQ. Computational Thinking for Physics: Programming Models of Physics Phenomenon in Elementary School:Know of another related resource? Login to relate this resource to it. |
ContributeRelated MaterialsSimilar Materials |