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THE VISUALIZATION AS AN EFFECTIVE TOOL IN PHYSICS

TEACHING

Author: Mag.Phys.

Aivars Krons

e-mail: ak14@inbox.lv

University of Latvia

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Applying and development of IT (Applying and development of IT (information technologies) in ) in Physics Education at Secondary SchoolPhysics Education at Secondary School

The aim of this presentation is to clarify the answers on the following questions:

1. Is it efficient to visualize physical phenomena today?

2. What benefit do we receive from visualization?

3. Why this educational method is useful and urgent in nowdays?

4. For who it is necessary to visualize physical phenomena?

5. How and does visualization helps us to understand nature phenomenon better?

6. Why or not to use IT?

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Development of IT in Physics Education at Secondary Development of IT in Physics Education at Secondary SchoolSchool

E = mc2

Introduction

The main task is – how to make your imagination visual?

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Development of IT in Physics Education at Secondary Development of IT in Physics Education at Secondary SchoolSchool

Physics teaching has always tried to use the visualization of physical phenomena.For this reason we should use new educational methods and devote all our efforts to stimulate youth interest in science.

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Development of IT in Physics Education at Secondary Development of IT in Physics Education at Secondary SchoolSchool

Experience comes from interaction with a learning environment

L E S S O N S of physicsL E S S O N S of physics

GEVF

TheoryExperiments,

scientific research & labwork

Life practice

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Applying IT in Physics Education at Secondary SchoolApplying IT in Physics Education at Secondary School

Today it is necessary to understand that computer visualization helps teachers and students to understand and study physical phenomena much better.

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Applying ICT in Physics Education at Secondary SchoolApplying ICT in Physics Education at Secondary School

The visualization methods such as demonstrations, simulations, models, graphs, films, animations, videos and different other applets can help students to better understand the physical concepts and phenomena.

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Applying IT in Physics Education at Secondary SchoolApplying IT in Physics Education at Secondary School

To ensure a well-organized and up to date learning process of physics one of the tasks is

to improve teachers’ skills of using information technologies.

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Applying IT in Physics Education at Secondary SchoolApplying IT in Physics Education at Secondary School

Consequently the visualization is significant in physics problem solving.

The visual presentation of physical phenomena and their models and,

experimental data and their mathematical description, helps

students to formulate correct conclusions.

The main aspect of visualization is to make teaching process obvious.

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Applying IT in Physics Education at Secondary SchoolApplying IT in Physics Education at Secondary School

Research in Physics

Education

T h e o r y of Physics Education –Physics Didactics

(content and methods of Physics education)

Developmentof Physics

Education

P r a c t i c e of Physics Education(content and methods of Physics education)

Development of General Education Visual Physics (GEVF)

GEVFGEVF

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Devoloping IT in Physics Education at Devoloping IT in Physics Education at Secondary schoolSecondary school

W h y do we develop GE Visual Physics?

W h a t do we develop here?

How do we develop it?

These are the basic questions These are the basic questions

for all kinds of educationfor all kinds of education

For the development and higher effectiveness of modern General Physics

the main thing is - the correlation of Educational mthodes of teaching contents

together with applying IT (information technologies)

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Applying IT in Physics Education at Secondary SchoolApplying IT in Physics Education at Secondary School Physics is

often seen as a collection of

subfields.

GEVF

Nowadays there is an urgant need to increasa the effectiveness and serious improvement of the development of modern General Physics Education for all (Why !!! ). One of the ways to solve this problem is GEVF. As one of the education methodes it plays the significant role in this case.

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Applying IT in Physics Education at Secondary SchoolApplying IT in Physics Education at Secondary School 1. Example – a simple

circuit construction

The circuit construction is a simulation that allows students to build virtual circuits containing a number of different elements. A pedagogically useful feature of the simulation is that it displays motion of the electrons, shown here in blue. Students who work with the interactive simulations are better able to understand and build real-life circuits.

Such simulations are available at the Physics Education Technology website

http://phet.colorado.edu/index.php

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Applying ICT in Physics Education at Secondary SchoolApplying ICT in Physics Education at Secondary School 1. Example - result An electronics kit in your

computer!

Task Build circuits with resistors, light bulbs, batteries, and switches. Take measurements with the realistic ammeter and voltmeter. View the circuit as a schematic diagram, or switch to a life-like view.

V

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Applying IT in Physics Education at Secondary SchoolApplying IT in Physics Education at Secondary School 2. Example

TaskHang masses from springs and adjust the spring stiffness and damping. You can even slow time. Transport the lab to different planets. A chart shows the kinetic, potential, and thermal energy for each spring.

Learning Goals: Students will be able to explain how the mass of the given physical body determines spring deformations. Then they will be able to use the spring to determine the mass of an unknown object.

““Visualization ofVisualization of physical body physical body and springand spring interaction interaction””

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Applying IT in Physics Education at Secondary SchoolApplying IT in Physics Education at Secondary School

Using PhET simulations for Physical Science for Middle School

Do you want to help your students make sense of Physics?

Interactive simulations can help students develop their ideas about physics through life-like investigations and inquiry based lessons.

The PhET project provides a free website of simulations that are designed to support student learning. This workshop helpThis workshop helps tos to design effective lessons. design effective lessons. Using these guidelines helps to provide activities for students to construct their own understanding of physics ideas. Check out the PhET website at http://phet.colorado.edu

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Applying IT in Physics Education at Secondary SchoolApplying IT in Physics Education at Secondary School

When When pupils pupils find their find their classes interesting, they are classes interesting, they are more willing to participate in more willing to participate in learning learning processprocess!!!!!!, also the atmosphere in class is positive and that inspires cooperation between pupils and their teacher of physics.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

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Applying IT in Physics Education at Secondary SchoolApplying IT in Physics Education at Secondary School

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

1. Interactive physics enables users to model 1. Interactive physics enables users to model a wide range of physical phenomena. a wide range of physical phenomena. 2. The use of IT facilities is most beneficial 2. The use of IT facilities is most beneficial and helpful in the fields where it is and helpful in the fields where it is impossible to demonstrate a real experiment impossible to demonstrate a real experiment or where there are no appropriate tools or where there are no appropriate tools available. available. 3. By investigation the IT facilities we can 3. By investigation the IT facilities we can find out new alternatives in physics find out new alternatives in physics teaching. teaching. 4. It is possible to turn complicated into 4. It is possible to turn complicated into simple. simple.

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Applying IT in Physics Education at Secondary SchoolApplying IT in Physics Education at Secondary School

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Personal challenge determines Personal challenge determines the professional development of the professional development of teachers.teachers.

Expected professionalism from teachers is to be a source of information and knowledge and to adopte the teaching methodes through which the knowledge could be transmitted.

These are the answers on two urging questions:

1. Who needs it?Who needs it?

22. Why do we need it?. Why do we need it?

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Applying IT in Physics Education at Applying IT in Physics Education at

Secondary School Secondary School

References

1. A.Broks. A universal structure of managing purposeful actions by humans : an aid for developing the content of modern general education. - Journal “Humanities and social sciences. Latvia”, University of Latvia, 2(42)2004 (pp.59-68).2. Krons A., 2007, Vizuāli izglītojošā fizika: maģistra darbs (VEP: master work). Rīga: Latvijas Universitāte. 3. Funda O, 2008, Models in Science Education: Applications of Models in Learning and Teaching Science: International Journal of Environmental & Science Education, 2008, 3 (2), 35 – 45 [available online march 2008].4. Stephen G. Benka The entangled dance of physics – Physics Today (journal) December 2006, page 51

Thank you for attention!