How to promote students ability to solve physics problems - Electronic collection of solved problems...

How to promote students ability to solve How to promote students ability to solve physics problems - Electronic collection physics problems - Electronic collection

of solved problems in physicsof solved problems in physics

DANA MANDIKOVADANA MANDIKOVADepartment of Physics Education, Department of Physics Education,

Charles University in Prague, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Mathematics and PhysicsFaculty of Mathematics and Physics

Como apoyar la habilidad de los estudiantes Como apoyar la habilidad de los estudiantes en solución de los problemas de física – La en solución de los problemas de física – La colección electrónica de las tareas de física colección electrónica de las tareas de física

por resolverpor resolver

DANA MANDIKOVADANA MANDIKOVADepartment of Physics Education, Department of Physics Education,

Charles University in Prague, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Mathematics and PhysicsFaculty of Mathematics and Physics

Puebla 2013Puebla 2013 33

Czech Republic


The main activities of our departmentThe main activities of our department

TTraining of raining of futurefuture physics teachers physics teachers

SSupport of in-service teachersupport of in-service teachers

PPopularization of physicsopularization of physics

RResearch in physics education esearch in physics education and in physicsand in physics


Topics of my interest:Topics of my interest:

StudentsStudents` m` misconceptionsisconceptions in physics in physics

IInternational researches TIMSS and nternational researches TIMSS and PISAPISA

EExperiments in primary school physicsxperiments in primary school physics

CCreation of ereation of electronic collection of lectronic collection of solved problems in physics solved problems in physics


Content of my lecture:Content of my lecture:

Why we prepare this collectionWhy we prepare this collection

Who are the usersWho are the users

How does the collection look likeHow does the collection look like

Current content and future plansCurrent content and future plans

Experience with usage of collectionExperience with usage of collection

EExamples of solved problemsxamples of solved problems


Why we prepare this collectionWhy we prepare this collection

TTo solve physics problems is a key ability which o solve physics problems is a key ability which students should reach during their physics students should reach during their physics educationeducation

LLack of time to solve enough problems ack of time to solve enough problems especially for students with poorer previous especially for students with poorer previous educationeducation

LLack of suitable study materials for these ack of suitable study materials for these studentsstudents


Our intentionOur intention

To To help help thethe users users of the collection of the collection to learn how to learn how to solve physics problems independentlyto solve physics problems independently

To To lead thelead themm to active thinking about presented to active thinking about presented physics problemsphysics problems


How we try to reach itHow we try to reach it

The structure of problems’ solutions is specially The structure of problems’ solutions is specially designed to substitute tutor’s help and designed to substitute tutor’s help and encourage students to solve at least some parts encourage students to solve at least some parts of a problem independently of a problem independently

There are various hints, notes with laws and There are various hints, notes with laws and formulas, formulas, figuresfigures and other means supporting and other means supporting students’ aspiration before detailed solution students’ aspiration before detailed solution

We have developed our own web interface for We have developed our own web interface for these problems which does not show entire these problems which does not show entire solution at the first time solution at the first time



The collection is suitable for independent The collection is suitable for independent repeating and improvement of high school repeating and improvement of high school curriculum curriculum

IIt can help students in introductory university t can help students in introductory university physics courses and reduce their initial physics courses and reduce their initial difficulties with solving physics problems difficulties with solving physics problems

It It could be useful and effective tool for students, could be useful and effective tool for students, who can’t attend the seminars regularly who can’t attend the seminars regularly



High school students interested in physics can High school students interested in physics can use this collection as well, e.g. for their use this collection as well, e.g. for their independent study and for preparation for school independent study and for preparation for school leaving exams or entrance examleaving exams or entrance examss to universit to universitiesies

We started to assign We started to assign to to the the collection also easier collection also easier high and secondary school problems high and secondary school problems

Availability on public web pages enables usage Availability on public web pages enables usage of the collection by both students and teachers of the collection by both students and teachers not only at our faculty but also at other not only at our faculty but also at other universities and high schoolsuniversities and high schools


Who are the authorsWho are the authors

The author of the technical design and user The author of the technical design and user interface is Zdenka Koupilova interface is Zdenka Koupilova

The solved problems are prepared mostly as a The solved problems are prepared mostly as a part of bachelor or diploma theses by students at part of bachelor or diploma theses by students at our faculty, whose study branch is aimed at our faculty, whose study branch is aimed at education education

We collaborate also with high school teachers We collaborate also with high school teachers and use their experience for reviewing the and use their experience for reviewing the content structure of particular parts of the content structure of particular parts of the collection and also for designing new problems collection and also for designing new problems


User interface of the collectionUser interface of the collection



DifficultyDifficulty• L1 - problems on the lower secondary school L1 - problems on the lower secondary school

levellevel

• L2 - problems on the upper secondary school L2 - problems on the upper secondary school levellevel

• L3 - problems on the high school level, more L3 - problems on the high school level, more difficult problems without using differential and difficult problems without using differential and integral calculusintegral calculus

• L4 - university level problemsL4 - university level problems



Special categories Special categories

• PProblem solved graphicallyroblem solved graphically

• PProblem solved by reasoning roblem solved by reasoning

• CComplex problemomplex problem

• PProblem solved by an unusual “trick”roblem solved by an unusual “trick”

• Problem containing theory Problem containing theory


SSections of individual pections of individual prroblemoblem TitleTitle and and assignmentassignment

We are trying to set We are trying to set the entry physicalthe entry physical valuesvalues to be similar to to be similar to real lifereal life experienceexperience

The important part of The important part of the problem is a picture the problem is a picture related to the problem related to the problem and motivating to solve and motivating to solve the problemthe problem

Garden party with an electric kettle


SSections of individual pections of individual prroblemoblem - solution - solution

HintsHints are written in a way t are written in a way thathat help helpss and and motivatemotivatess users to solve the problem. By users to solve the problem. By including the hints we’re trying to involve users including the hints we’re trying to involve users in solving the problem activelyin solving the problem actively


SSections of individual pections of individual prroblemoblem - - hinthint


SSections of individual pections of individual prroblemoblem - solution - solution

The The analysisanalysis contains the whole strategy of the solution contains the whole strategy of the solution

By the analysis we’re trying to introduce the physical By the analysis we’re trying to introduce the physical principle of the problem to the students principle of the problem to the students

The analysis doesn’t contain mathematical formulas The analysis doesn’t contain mathematical formulas


SSections of individual poblemections of individual poblem - solution - solution

Commented solutionCommented solution describes the solution describes the solution step by step to the details step by step to the details

IIncludes every logical operation ncludes every logical operation

IIncludes all mathematical steps ncludes all mathematical steps

IIncludes brief resume of known data, ncludes brief resume of known data, conversions to appropriate units and numerical conversions to appropriate units and numerical calculationscalculations


SSections of individual pections of individual prroblemoblem

Answer Answer - allows the users to check results - allows the users to check results quicklyquickly

CommentComment• DDescribes possible alternative solutionescribes possible alternative solution• CContains e. g. variations of the problem leading to an ontains e. g. variations of the problem leading to an

easier or easier or to to more difficult solutionmore difficult solution• CComments if the assignment is realisticomments if the assignment is realistic• HighlightHighlights things that users may be interested ins things that users may be interested in

Links - Links - similar problems are linked together by similar problems are linked together by hyperlinkshyperlinks


Example of problemExample of problem

http://physicstasks.eu


SSections of individual pections of individual prroblemoblem

The order of sections in the problem is not The order of sections in the problem is not fixfixeely ly givengiven and depends on the author and depends on the author

There can be more than one section of same There can be more than one section of same type in a problemtype in a problem

Using this variety in problem design, the author Using this variety in problem design, the author leads a reader through the problem in a way leads a reader through the problem in a way optimized to the type of the particular problemoptimized to the type of the particular problem

The author can also arrange the problem’s The author can also arrange the problem’s sections to move readers to active thinking sections to move readers to active thinking about the problem about the problem


Example of problemExample of problem


Current content - czech versionCurrent content - czech version

There are more than 750 problemsThere are more than 750 problems

• MechaniMechanicscs – – 200 200

• EleElectricity and magnetism ctricity and magnetism – 215– 215

• TThermodynamics and hermodynamics and molemolecular physics cular physics – 140– 140

• Physics of microworldPhysics of microworld – 60 – 60

• Theoretical mechanics Theoretical mechanics – – 3030

• Mathematical methods Mathematical methods – 1– 188

• Mathematical analysis Mathematical analysis –– 110 110


Current content – other versionsCurrent content – other versions

English English verversion - sion - 5 555 problemsproblems• Mechanics - 31Mechanics - 31

• EleElectricity and magnetism - 24ctricity and magnetism - 24

PolPolish versionish version – 90 problems– 90 problems

Administration interface is in english - no Administration interface is in english - no problem to add other versionsproblem to add other versions


Future plansFuture plans

Our aim is to cover all parts of physics included Our aim is to cover all parts of physics included into the basic university coursesinto the basic university courses

Continuously adding problems into already Continuously adding problems into already existing parts existing parts

Administration interface of the collection is still Administration interface of the collection is still being developed and improvedbeing developed and improved

Tasks are translated to englishTasks are translated to english

Monitoring usability of the collectionMonitoring usability of the collection


Experience with usage of collectionExperience with usage of collection

The collection is used during seminars aimed to The collection is used during seminars aimed to problem solving, which support compulsory problem solving, which support compulsory physics lectures physics lectures

Especially students, which can not attend Especially students, which can not attend seminars regularly appreciate this material very seminars regularly appreciate this material very muchmuch

Also high school teachers and students like the Also high school teachers and students like the project and see it as very helpful and usefulproject and see it as very helpful and useful


Users opinionUsers opinion

MonitorMonitoring use of the collectioning use of the collection • Feedback questionnaire Feedback questionnaire ((158 filled before 158 filled before

10.4.201310.4.2013))• 49 % using regularly49 % using regularly• Users appreciate the structure of tasks - Users appreciate the structure of tasks -

especially hints and analysis and database especially hints and analysis and database interface.interface.

UUsers are also students of other universities and sers are also students of other universities and high school students and their teachershigh school students and their teachers


How is the collection usedHow is the collection used


Number of visitsNumber of visits

Number of visits 1.3. – 30.4.2013Number of visits 1.3. – 30.4.2013

Total number of visits: 43 810Total number of visits: 43 810

Number of unique visitors:Number of unique visitors: 30 76030 760

Average time of one visit: 2 min 51 sAverage time of one visit: 2 min 51 s


Where are the users from?Where are the users from?

Country

65,4%

12,0%

6,3%

4,5%

1,6%

1,3%

1,2%

7,7% Czech Republic

Poland

USA

Slovakia

India

UK

Canada

Other

Mexico – 22 visits Mexico – 22 visits


Examples of problemsExamples of problems

A block struck by a bulletA block struck by a bullet

CyclotronCyclotron

Web adWeb adddresresss of english of english versionversion::

httphttp://physicstasks.eu://physicstasks.eu


If you want to join, please contact us:

[email protected]


Thank you for attention

[email protected]

How to promote students ability to solve physics problems - Electronic collection of solved problems...

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