Narratives and Videos

We have developed a number of narrative interpretations of videos of class sessions that seem to be good examples of student learning. The intent is to help interested instructors envision an interactive classroom culture, one in which students learn by talking with one another about what they think as well as by listening to and conversing with their instructor. This approach to documenting and interpreting learning experiences draws on the power of narrative to convey cultural values and practices. These narratives are written in the tradition of ethnography of communication (Philipsen & Coutu, 2004; van Zee & Minstrell, 1997). Ethnographers of communication examine cultural practices by interpreting what is said, where, when, by whom, for what purpose, in what way, and in what context. See a short paper about how/why to write narratives: van Zee & Manogue, Documenting and Interpreting Ways to Engage Students in ‘Thinking Like a Physicist’, PERC, 2010.

Activity Description Activity Type Narrative Transcript Subtitled Video
The Potential of a Point Charge Small Whiteboard Questionyes (short)
yes (long)
PlainClarifying Student Thinking (01:07:35 - 01:09:36) Clarifying Student Question (01:15:25.12- 01:17:14.02)
Exploring the GradientClass Discussion, ManipulativesyesNot yetNot yet
Representations of Current DensitySmall GroupyesPlain
Annotated
not yet
The Concept of Flux Kinestheticyes (short) yesPlain
Annotated
Review, SWBQ, Kinesthetic,Full
Linear Transformations Compare & Contrastyes (long)Plain
Annotated
not yet
Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors Compare & Contrastyes (long)Plainnot yet
Quantum Measurement Interviews Spring 2011Research InterviewsBilly(long)not yetnot yet
Hamiltonian for the Hydrogen AtomSmall Whiteboard Questionyes (short)not yetnot yet
Time Evolution as a Kinesthetic ActivityKinestheticnot yetnot yetEvolution 1,Evolution 2
Name the Experiment, Introduction Compare & Contrast yes(short) yes (short)not yetnot yet
Name the Experiment, Entropy Compare & Contrast yes(short) yes (short)not yetnot yet

 


The copyright on all narratives and transcripts listed on this page rests with the Director of the Paradigms Project. For copyright purposes, they should be treated similarly to published journal articles. For further details, see the copyright page.