Harnessing materials from the Paradigms Project to help students learn to ``think like a physicist'''

COFFEE_KLATCH · Invited

Abstract

One of the major goals of upper-division courses is and should be to help the next generation of physics majors learn to ``think like a physicist'' instead of merely reproducing ``correct'' answers to problems from the text or lectures. To accomplish this goal often requires a shift in our instructional approach that may seem time-consuming and overwhelming. The Paradigms in Physics Project provides the tools and support to aid in this shift at the lecture, activity, course, and even program level. This presentation will present an overview of the project and some of the many ways that these tools can be used to help our students learn to ``think like a physicist.''

Authors

  • Mary Bridget Kustusch

    Oregon State University