Today we learned about authentic learning tasks. Authentic tasks are ones designed with real-world applications in mind. So instead of asking students to solve standard textbook problems, perhaps I might ask them to discuss and explain a technique to shrink and/or destroy a brain tumor that uses magnetism as the primary phenomenon behind the technique. A "magnetic scalpel" project would be most appreciated by biology and pre-med students. As a group they often have challenges visualizing the connections between the physics they learn in class and the medical field in which they intend to specialize.
This past semester the students had to complete group projects where they modeled biological processes/phenomena. The most successful of the 3 projects was one where they modeled the design of a deep sea creature (fish or jellyfish, student's choice). They focused on the propulsion of the animal, and in the end discussed how their project might be informative in the design of a deep sea robot.
We saw some usage of Blackboard, which is a course management program. It is similar to WebCT in what it can do. I can only assume that since Blackboard has absorbed WebCT I will be using it in the near to distant future. We looked at an online simulation of gas in a can, where the user adjusted the volume of the container and measured pressure of the gas. It was very handy in that the program tabulated the "data" and graphed it with a mouse-click. The great thing about online simulations is that you never see such beautifully perfect data in real life (although a student has tried to pass off such perfect Excel-generated data as experimental results - and yes I caught it.) But I digress....
I'm enjoying blogging, and I do hope to continue this blog well into the next academic year. I think I will also try to use a Wiki in my next course, as I think it might help with student efforts in group projects.
Many thanks to Minchi for showing me how to create this blog, as well as a Wiki page!! Summer really is the best time of year as the brain has time to explore new and diverse ideas.
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3 comments:
I think your authentic learning task is a GREAT idea! I had to take 2 Physics courses as part of my prerequisites, and at the time, did NOT understand what they had to do with my chosen allied health field. Maybe with some exercises like your idea, the students will begin to "see the light"!!
Wow Physics for girls! I really needed that long ago. I would like to see some of the authentic learning tasks you develop to teach girls physics. I don't know if I could ever learn but I would have liked a different approach.
I agree. I got an A in physics I and II labs, but had to drop the physics II lecture. Providing more connections between the lab and the real, physical world and the concepts and their formulas would be awesome!
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