Physics 640: Physics Pedagogy
An On-line Course for Teachers of Physics

Week 8 Assignment: Overview of Resources II

The resources that we have provided in the Readings could be evaluated on several criteria. We have chosen the following:

1. Quality of learning activities.
2. Concept maps. (For information on concept maps in physics, click here.)
3. Usefulness for addressing alternate conceptions.
4. Quality of support from vendor/program director.
5. Ease of integration into my classroom.
6. Assessment.

Your assignment is to evaluate all six of the resources listed on the reading page (reproduced below) based on ONE of the above criteria. Write 150 words on a strength of each of the resources using one of these criteria (you can use different criteria for different resources). Also write 50 words on a weakness of each of the resources using one of these criteria. For each resource, list first the strength and then the weakness (and then move on to the next resource). This will be HW16 in Open Portfolio.

1. Constructing Conceptual Curriculum for Physics (C³P)
2. Modeling
3. Constructing Physics Understanding (CPU)
4. PASCO
5. Vernier
6. Interactive Lecture Demonstrations

By March 18, 2004 you should submit a ranked list of several activities (at least three) for which you would like to do an indepth exploration for week 9. Do this by email to the Instructors. They will, in turn, choose one of the resources and let you know which one you will do. Only one person may work on a given resource, so it is important for you to not be tardy.

We will not have you formally critique each other's assignments, but we do want you to read them and give some feedback. Go into Open Portfolio and add your feedback to your peers' submissions. It will be interesting to look at each other's reactions. We will not assign a grade for Assignment 2, but we will deduct points for Assignment 1 if you do not leave feedback for all the other students.