Physics 641: Physics Pedagogy
An On-line Course for Teachers of Physics

Week 7 Assignment: Overview of Resources I

Assignment 1 - due March 13, 2006, before 5 a.m.

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 each of the six 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, and in fact, we prefer this). 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 HW15 in Open Portfolio.

1. Workshop Physics
2. RealTime Physics (RTP)
3. Physics by Inquiry
4. Active Physics
5. Physics Simulation Software (including Interactive Physics). We would prefer you to use Interactive Physics here, but do not insist.
6. Online Physics Simulation (choose one of the simulations).

Assignment 2 - due March 15, 2006, by 5 a.m.

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.