AAPT Winter Meeting 2026 Workshop
Schedule
8:00-8:10 Introductions
Please sign in: https://forms.gle/
Survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScdlobQf-RzfGyfXyneRxxmvqBCIV_ag95sH1RMd4XK1zYmng/viewform
8:10-8:20 Review of PICUP site and available resources
8:20-8:45 Computation Learning Goals
What are the skills we are expecting students to gain from computation integration either over the entire major, or at a given course.
EP3 Guide to Computational Skills
AAPT Recommendations for Computational Physics in the Undergraduate Physics Curriculum
Computing in Physics Courses at Michigan State University
The Difficulties Associated with Integrating Computation into Undergraduate Physics
8:45-9:30 Spreadsheets in Introductory Physics
9:30-9:45 BREAK
9:45-10:30 Glowscript/VPython
10:30-11:15 Google Colab
11:15-11:45 Practical Implementation of Computational Activities in Physics Courses
11:45-12:00 Wrap Up
Glowscript / Web VPython / Trinket links and resources
Constant velocity template for students
Constant acceleration template for students
Constant acceleration with graph template for students
Working with vectors in Web VPython template for students
Projectile motion template for students
Example solution for constant velocity exercise
Example solution for constant acceleration exercise
Example solution for constant acceleration with graph exercise
Example solution for vectors exercise
Example solution for projectile motion exercise
Spreadsheets
This series of videos shows how to make use of some basic spreadsheet functionality to build computational models, and includes a review of the simple Euler Method for solving a first order differential equation in the context of solving Newton's 2nd Law. The series culminates with an implementation of a model of a Falling Sphere without air resistance. Any spreadsheet program can be used to follow along, and work through the content in these videos.
Building a Control Panel - Excel/LibreOffice
Building a Control Panel - Google Sheets
Basic Iterative Calculations and Building a Kinematic Problem Solver - Excel/LibreOffice
Basic Iterative Calculations and Building a Kinematic Problem Solver - Google Sheets
Falling Sphere without Air Resistance
