Example Course Paper

example2013springphysics111paper.pdf

Inquiry into Physical Phenomena

(Physics 111 Student)

30 May 2013 Physics 111

A sophomore Human Development and Family Science major wrote this course paper. The instructor provided the organization of the paper by supplying headings and subheadings. As part of the homework assignment each week, the students wrote “their own textbook” to document their activities for that week by using these headings and subheadings as guidelines. The instructor provided detailed feedback each week. The students then submitted the revised weekly sections as a course paper during the ninth week of the ten-week term, along with the final section reflecting upon their science learning experiences in the course.

Course description: Physics 111 Inquiring into Physical Phenomena (4) Development of conceptual understandings through investigation of everyday phenomena. Emphasis is on questioning, predicting, exploring, observing, discussing, and writing in physical science contexts. Students document their initial thinking, record their evolving understandings, and write reflections upon how their thinking changed and what fostered their learning.

Units:
• Nature of Light Phenomena
• Nature of Thermal Phenomena
• Influence of Light and Thermal Phenomena on Local Weather
• Influence of Light and Thermal Phenomena on Global Climate
• Nature of Astronomical Phenomena
• Reflection on Science Learning and Teaching

Each unit has the following structure:
• Identifying Resources
• Developing Powerful Ideas Based on Evidence
• Using Powerful Ideas to Develop an Explanation of an Intriguing Phenomenon
• Developing Mathematical Representations of the Phenomena
• Using Mathematical Representations to Estimate a Quantity of Interest

Instructor: Dr. Emily H. van Zee, Associate Professor of Science Education, Oregon State University Emily.vanZee@science.oregonstate.edu

Development of this course was partially supported by National Science Foundation grant No. 0633752-DUE, Integrating Physics and Literacy Learning in a Physics Course for Elementary and Middle School Teachers, Henri Jansen, PI, Department of Physics, Emily van Zee, co-PI, Department of Science and Mathematics Education, College of Science and Kenneth Winograd, co-PI, Department of Teacher and Counselor Education, College of Education, Oregon State University.