What you'll learn:

The modeling workshops address aspects of high school physics teaching, including integration of teaching methods with course content as it should be done in the high school classroom. Workshops incorporate up-to-date results of physics and science education research, best high school curriculum materials, use of technology, and experience in collaborative learning and guidance.

Participants are introduced to the Modeling Method as a systematic approach to the design of curriculum and instruction. The name Modeling Instruction expresses an emphasis on making and using conceptual models of physical phenomena as central to learning and doing science.

Adoption of "models and modeling" as a unifying theme for science and mathematics education is recommended by both NSES and NCTM Standards as well as AAAS Project 2061. Mathematics instruction is integrated seamlessly throughout the course by an emphasis on mathematical modeling. Modeling Instruction is aligned with all eight science practices of the NRC Framework for K-12 Science.

Content for an entire semester course is reorganized around models to increase its structural coherence. Participants are supplied with a complete set of course materials and work through activities alternately in the roles of student or teacher. Teachers use computers as scientific tools to collect, organize, analyze, visualize, and model real data

Course content:

Unit 1: Scientific thinking in experimental settings

Unit 2: Particle with constant velocity

Unit 3: Uniformly accelerating particle model

Unit 4: Free particle model -- inertia and interactions

Unit 5: Constant force particle model

Unit 6: Particle models in two dimensions

Unit 7: Central force particle model

Unit 8: Modeling energy storage and transfer

Unit 9: Impulsive force model

What you'll receive:

Certificate showing Continuing Education Units earned

​Prerequisite:

For non-physics teachers, a minimum of one semester of trigonometry-based college physics for science majors.

Limited spaces in the classroom are available. To apply for a space, please e-mail jane.jackson@asu.edu.

*If you will pay out of pocket and cannot get reimbursed, please email jane.jackson@asu.edu for a coupon code that will give you 50% off the price of the course.