Creating and Using Hypothesis-Testing Investigations Using ...

Creating and Using HypothesisTesting Investigations Using Online Simulations Bruce Palmquist Central Washington University 2012 WA AAPT Workshop Outline Whats PhET Work on E Field relationship activity Briefly review V, E, and r relationships activity How to create your own investigative assignment Briefly review H atom activity

Start planning your own investigation (If time: share your idea) Todays presentation at http://goo.gl/GmEHh PhET, its PHAT Two main goals of PhET simulations Increase student interest Improve student learning The animated, interactive and game-like environments help students learn through

exploration Can be used as an interactive demonstration, homework, confirmation lab activity, hypothesis testing activity E Field Relationship Open the Charges and Fields Sim Do the initial exploration (first 2 bullet points) Complete hypothesis 1 and 3 (note If, then,

because format) Gather the data for hypothesis 1 and 3 Typical class results for E r^x 1. Point charge -2 -1.8 -2 3. Beside a narrow dipole -3

-3 -2.9 2. Line of charges -1.14 -1 -1.2 4. Above a narrow dipole -3 -3 -2.9

V, E, and r Relationships Similar activity for electric potential using the same sim Key to developing an effective activity: use student or peer feedback Developing a hypothesis-testing activity First look to see what has already been developed at the bottom of the page

Play with the activity and determine which parameters can be manipulated Of those, determine which have a measurable response If the sim is complex, have a short exploration task before asking students to hypothesize Make sure students develop a hypothesis before doing the experiment Students should formulate their own conclusion and relate it back to the hypothesis A simpler investigation Developing a model of the H

atom Students make a prediction, run a simple experiment, and compare Then, they develop a model of the H atom and compare to 6 standard models Used to teach the science process in a non-science honors class Try it yourself Find a PhET simulation that fits in your

curriculum Play with the activity and determine which parameters can be manipulated Determine which have a measurable response Develop a short exploration, if needed Insert the hypothesis-making step in the appropriate place Optional: Submit your wonderful new activity to PhET and get a gold star Bibliography http://phet.colorado.edu/

C. E. Wieman, K. K. Perkins, A powerful tool for teaching science, Nature Physics 2, 290-292 (May 2006). C. E. Wieman, K. K. Perkins, and W. K. Adams, Oersted Medal Lecture 2007: Interactive simulations for teaching physics: What works, what doesnt, and why, Am. J. Phys. 76, 393-399 (April/May 2008).