Bulletin of the American Physical Society
2019 Joint Fall Meeting of the Texas Sections of APS, AAPT and Zone 13 of the SPS
Volume 64, Number 18
Friday–Saturday, October 25–26, 2019; Lubbock, Texas
Session J01: Plenary IV |
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Chair: Beth Thacker, Texas Tech University Room: Student Union Building Matador Room |
Saturday, October 26, 2019 12:00PM - 12:36PM |
J01.00001: Computational Thinking and Problem Solving in Introductory Physics Invited Speaker: Ruth Chabay If we want students to perceive computation as a tool for solving physics problems, we need to convince students that computation makes problem solving easier. Constructing problems that invite computational solutions provides one incentive. Contrasting analytical and computational solutions in simple situations can set the stage for more elaborate problem solving, beginning with conceptually simple physics problems that can be easier to solve computationally than analytically. Additionally, allowing students to use a computational environment that supports vector calculations (VPython) instead of a calculator on homework and tests encourages students to become comfortable with simple coding. I'll discuss a few problems solved by students, along with initial efforts to assess the computational thinking skills developed by students in an introductory physics course that integrates computational modeling.. [Preview Abstract] |
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