Teaching AP Physics 1 to the World

COFFEE_KLATCH · Invited

Abstract

Since January, we have been teaching an online course on edX, called Preparing for the AP Physics 1 Exam. As it sounds, the course is designed to prepare high school students for the AP Physics 1 exam in early May. However, covering basic introductory physics, the course has also attracted a wide variety of students from around the world. Topics covered in this talk include statistics regarding student demographics and student involvement as the course has progressed; examples of the online labs we have set up, many based on direct-measurement videos or HTML5 simulations - this is aimed at the requirement that 25\% of the course be lab- based; and a discussion of our experiences teaching an online course. Course development has been supported by Boston University's Digital Learning Initiative, as well as by a grant from edX.

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Authors

  • Andrew Duffy

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Columbia University, Central Connecticut State University, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, Wheaton College, Harvard University, Physics Department, Boston University, Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, Boston University, Physics Department, Boston University, Electrical Engineering Department, Boston University, Biomedical Engineering Department, Boston University, Mechanical Engineering Department, Kirensky Institute of Physics, Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, Northeastern University, Rochester University, Boston University, Bridgewater State University