Selected Problems in Physics Teaching (2)
(214305)
Lecturer: Dr Fadeel Joubran
Credits: 2.0
Course Topic and Learning Outcomes
The course explores selected problems in physics teaching, through reading articles on historical
problems in physics, analyzing and solving the physics of each of the problems individually or in
groups, and class discussions on possible strategies for solutions. Particularly, students read research
articles on pupils' difficulties in problem solving in physics, analyze the cognitive difficulties in physics
reasoning of each of the problems, develop strategies to support and cope with difficulties, then
develop strategies for teaching problem solving in high-schools both in the classroom and physics lab.
Learning Outcomes:
Student will be able to analyze, plan and teach theoretical and practical (laboratory and project)
lessons in problem solving in physics. In particular, students:
1. experience well known historical problems in physics and apply to teaching problem solving
in high-school.
2. become familiar with major problem solving difficulties that high-school students
experience.
3. build strategies of coping with students’ conceptualization and problem solving difficulties
in physics.
Assessment
1. Read and prepare an analysis of physics historical problems – 15%
2. Read and prepare an analysis of students difficulties in problem solving in physics – 30%
3. Plan, develop, demonstrate and evaluate 5 strategies of problem solving in classroom in
physics – 40%
4. Examination of student teaching materials of physics problem solving – 15%
Bibliography
1. No author, e-book: Complete Guide to Physics Problems (Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5). Available
at : http://www.solvephysics.com/ebooks.htm
2. Mathematics of problem solving:
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/1dkin/u1l6b.cfm
Articles
1. Bing, T. J., & Redish, E. F. (2009). Analyzing problem solving using math in physics:
Epistemological framing via warrants. Physical Review Special Topics-Physics Education
Research, 5(2), 020108
2. Heller, P., Keith, R., & Anderson, S. (1997). Teaching Problem Solving Through
Cooperative Grouping (Part 1): Group Versus Individual Problem Solving. MAA NOTES,
159-172.
3. Larkin, Jill, John McDermott, Dorothea P. Simon, and Herbert A. Simon. "Expert and
novice performance in solving physics problems." Science 208, no. 4450 (1980): 13351342.
4. Niss, M. (2012). Towards a conceptual framework for identifying student difficulties with
solving Real-World Problems in Physics. Lat. Am. J. Phys. Educ. Vol, 6(1), 3
5. Reiner, M., Slotta, J. D., Chi, M. T., & Resnick, L. B. (2000). Naive physics reasoning: A
commitment to substance-based conceptions. Cognition and Instruction, 18(1), 1-34..