compiled by R. Harrington (randal@maine.edu)
Software Companies:
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CBL
The CBL is a mobile, computer-based laboratory designed to be used with the CBL-compatible Texas Instruments graphing calculators: TI-82, TI-83, TI-85, TI-86, or TI-92. It allows students to collect and analyze scientific data outside the traditional classroom. Additional information can be obtained by visiting the CBL Homepage or by contacting:
Texas Instruments
Customer Support Line
PO Box 650311, MS 3962
Dallas, TX 75265
Voice: (800) 842-2737
Email: ti-cares@ti.com
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INTERACTIVE PHYSICS
Interactive Physics is a complete modeling and simulation environment that allows teachers and students to explore physics concepts such as mechanics, conservation of energy, vectors, time/distance/force equations, planetary motion, relative motion and electrostatics. Additional information can be obtained by contacting:
Knowledge Revolution
66 Bovet Road, Suite 200
San Mateo, CA 94402
Voice: (800) 766-6615
Fax: (415) 574-7541
E-mail: support@krev.com
A review of Interactive Physics 3.0 appeared in Physics Courseware Communicator, Volume 3, Number 4 which is available online as an Adobe Acrobat .PDF file.
A post-use review of Interactive Physics by John Mallinckrodt, California State Polytechnic University, is available online.
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PHYSICS ACADEMIC SOFTWARE
Physics Academic Software (PAS) is a software publishing project of the American Institute of Physics in cooperation with the American Physical Society and the American Association of Physics Teachers. PAS programs are designed and targeted for professionals, teachers, and students from high school to graduate school. All software is peer reviewed for excellence and tested for accuracy, compatibility, and ease of use. A complete catalog of Physics Academic Software is available on the PAS Homepage. Additional information can be obtained by contacting:
Physics Academic Software
Box 8202
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-8202
Voice: (800) 955-8275
Fax: (919) 515-2682
E-mail: pas@aip.org
Reviews of most Physics Academic Software programs appear in the Physics Courseware Communicator.
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VERNIER
Vernier software includes a wide range of software packages that can be used in the science classroom. The software is available for both Macintosh and IBM-compatible computers. A complete catalog of curriculum materials can be found on the Vernier Homepage. Additional information is available by contacting:
Vernier Software
8565 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy
Portland, OR 97225-2429
Voice: (503) 297-5317
Fax: (503) 297-1760
E-mail:info@vernier.com
Software Review and Searches
Biology Education Software Task Force: http://www.zoology.washington.edu/biosoft/
Lists of Links:
ENC's List of Links for Math and Science: http://www.enc.org/classroom/dd/nf_index.htmFrank Potter's Science GEMS: http://www-sci.lib.uci.edu/SEP/SEP.html
Mid-continent Regional Educational Laboratory (McREL) extensive list of science links: http://mcrel.org/connect/science.html
Physics Teacher Resources: http://www.psrc-online.org
Chemistry Teacher Resources: http://rampages.onramp.net/~jaldr/chemtchr.html
Biology Teacher Resources: http://www.gene.com/ae/
Science Museum Sites (just the two best!):
Franklin Science Museum: http://sln.fi.edu/
Great Modern Physics Tutorials!:Physics 2000 web pageThe Particle Adventure: http://pdg.lbl.gov/cpep/adventure.html
Science of Hockey: http://netra.exploratorium.edu/hockey/
Physics Java Applets: http://www.tp.umu.se/TIPTOP/VLAB/
Light and Color Cool stuff (Illusionworks):http://www.illusionworks.com/index.html
KIE Project "How far does light travel?
Interactive Physics Problem Sets: http://info.itp.berkeley.edu/Vol1/Contents.html
Earth Science Teaching Resources from USGS (MAPS): http://www-nmd.usgs.gov/www/html/1educate.html
The Virtual Fly Lab: http://vflylab.calstatela.edu/
Science Jokes Archive: http://www.princeton.edu/~pemayer/ScienceJokes.html
The Science Daily News: http://www.sciencedaily.com/index.htm
The WHY? Files: http://whyfiles.news.wisc.edu/index.html
Ask an Expert: http://njnie.dl.stevens-tech.edu/curriculum/aska/science.html
Ask the Physics Guy (former UMaine Physics Student Andrew Paradis): http://www.gwi.net/~eiko/physicsguy.htm
"How Stuff Works" Web Page (good stuff on motors!):http://www.howstuffworks.com/index.htm
Links Related to Electric Charge (NEW!)
Color Mixing (Light and Light on Pigment)
Superposition of Waves (caution: longer download times)
Magnets (Find the Bad Physics at this web site!): http://total-health-awareness.com/nikkhowmagnets.html
The Why Files (The Science behind the News):http://whyfiles.news.wisc.edu/
Active Physics
Active Physics was developed by Dr. Arthur Eisenkraft and leading physicists, physics teachers and science educators under the auspices of the American Association of Physics Teachers and the American Institute of Physics. Active Physics only uses algebraic equations and graphs to represent ideas symbolically. It also provides instruction for the use of calculators and spreadsheets, and all reading materials are at the 9th grade level so that maximum attention can be focussed on physics principles. The six thematic units are Transportation, Communication, Home, Medicine, Predictions, and Sports. Additional information about Active Physics can be obtained by visiting the Active Physics HomePage or by contacting:
It's About Time, Inc.
84 Business Park Drive
Armonk, NY 10504
Voice: (888) 698-8463
Fax: (914)273-2227
E-mail: itstimefor@aol.com
Web: http://www.its-about-time.com
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ARISE
Project ARISE-American Renaissance in Science Education is Leon Lederman's Website. Nobelist Lederman advocates the Physics First philosophy and has a detailed curriculum listed in his ARISE proposal that is available on this site. Additional information supporting the Physics First philosophy is also available at this site.
http://www-ed.fnal.gov/arise/arise.html
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C3P
C3P symbolizes the Comprehensive Conceptual Curriculum for Physics --a curriculum that integrates video-based, inquiry-based, and lab-oriented materials with an effective pedagogy that promotes student explorations and is based on findings from current research in students' preconceptions. Approaches that have proven to be effective in enhancing students' understanding of physics topics have been integrated into a cohesive research-based curriculum that is rich in resources. Additional information about C3P can be obtained by visiting the C3P Homepage or by contacting:
C3P
Department of Physics
University of Dallas
1845 E. Northgate Drive
Irving, TX 75062-4799
Voice: (800) 526-8472
E-mail: olenick@phys.udallas.edu
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Just-in-Time Teaching (JiTT)
Just-in-Time Teaching (JiTT) is a teaching and learning strategy comprised of two elements: classroom activities that promote active learning and World Wide Web resources that are used to enhance the classroom component. Many industries use Just-in-Time methods; they combine high-speed communications and rapid distribution systems to improve efficiency and flexibility. The use of JiTT is analogous in many ways. The developers combine high-speed communications on the web with the ability to rapidly adjust content; this makes the classroom activities more efficient and more closely tuned to our students' needs. The essential element is feedback between the web-based and classroom activities.
Web-based preparatory assignments are due a few hours before class. The students complete these assignments individually, at their own pace, and submit them electronically. In turn, the classroom lessons are adjusted and organized in response to the student submissions "Just-in-Time." This establishes a feedback loop between the classroom and the web. Each lecture is preceded and informed by an assignment on the web. The feedback cycle occurs several times each week, encouraging students to stay current and to do so by studying in several sessions that are short enough to avoid fatigue.
This strategy has been student tested for five semesters, and the developers are encouraged by the results, both attitudinal and cognitive. In fact, working with the JiTT strategy has convinced them that the web, combined with live teachers in the classroom, can humanize instruction for all students and make a real difference to the non-traditional student. JiTT has been developed concurrently at three institutions: Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI), the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, and Davidson College. The JiTT strategy is effective despite numerous differences among these three institutions; this suggests that Just-in-Time Teaching is applicable in many other settings.
Web Page http://webphysics.iupui.edu/jitt/jitt.html
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CPU PROJECT
The Constructing Physics Understanding (CPU) Project has developed a set powerful simulation software in six content areas, and a unique software journal where students can track the evolution of their ideas using text and graphics. The software is appropriate for use at the high school level and above, and may be appropriate for some younger students. A set of constructivist oriented learning materials is available that makes use of the software. CPU is supported by NSF and San Diego State University. For additional information, contact:
Voice: (619) 594-2571
E-mail : CPU@public.sdsu.edu.
Web: http://cpuproject.sdsu.edu
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Workshop Modeling Project
The Modeling Workshop Project has been under development for more than a decade. Its approach to curriculum design and teaching methodology has been guided by a Modeling Theory of Physics Instruction, the focus of an educational research program directed by Prof. David Hestenes. The theory has been implemented in a practical Modeling Method for high school physics, developed and tested in the doctoral dissertation (1987) of Malcolm Wells, a high school teacher who brought more than two decades of classroom experience to the task. Based on the impressive results of this research, Hestenes and Wells were awarded an NSF grant to further improve the modeling method and develop workshops to train other teachers to use it. Six week pilot workshops during the summers of 1990-91 were found to exert a powerful influence on the teaching behavior of participants. This experience provides the foundation for the current nationwide program of Leadership Workshops.
Workshop Modeling Project:
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Arizona State University
PO Box 871504
Tempe, AZ 85287-1504 USA
Voice: (602) 965-8438
Email: jane.jackson@asu.edu
Web Page: http://modeling.la.asu.edu/modeling.html
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NSTA'S SCOPE, SEQUENCE &
COORDINATION PROJECT (SS&C)
NSTA's SS&C project consists of hundreds of curricular resources derived from NSTA's publication A Framework for High School Science Education. The Micro-Units, composed of labs, readings, and assessments for teachers and students, form a complete integrated science curriculum for grades 9-12 which was developed and tested for the purpose of meeting the National Science Education Standards. The materials are available in a portable format (pdf files) which can be downloaded from the NSTA SS&C Homepage. Additional information is available by contacting:
SS&C Research and Development Center
Western NSTA Office
894 Discovery Court
Henderson, NV 89014
Voice: (702) 436-6685
E-mail: bgaldridge@ssandc.org
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PRISMS
PRISMS is an acronym for Physics Resources and Instructional Strategies for Motivating Students. Primary materials developed for the project are the PRISMS teacher's guide which contains over 120 activities with student instructions and teacher's notes, a computer test bank of over 2,000 questions keyed to course objectives and ranked to levels of reasoning as per Bloom's tanonomy and a video tape used with two activities. Additional information about PRISMS can be obtained by visiting the PRISMS Homepage or by contacting:
PRISMS Project
Physics Department
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0150
Voice: (319) 273-2380
Fax: (319)273-5813
E-mail: unruh@uni.edu
RETURN TO LRPE Modeling Workshop Page