Poster Presentation/Demo Abstract
Modeling Applied to Problem Solving
Modeling[1] Applied to Problem Solving (MAPS) is a pedagogy that helps students transfer instruction to problem solving in an expert-like manner. Declarative and Procedural syllabus content is organized and learned as a hierarchy of General Models. Students solve problems using an explicit Problem Modeling Rubric that begins with System, Interactions and Model (S.I.M.). System and Interactions are emphasized as the key to a strategic description of the system and the identification of the appropriate General Model to apply to the problem. We have shown dramatic gains on test scores using this pedagogy in a 3-week review course over IAP.
1. M. Wells, D. Hestenes, and G. Swakhamer, “A Modeling Method for High School Physics Instruction”, Am. J. Phys. 63, 606-619 (1995).
Addressing the Textbook’s Shortcomings with a WikiTextBook
This e-Book will enable a shift in the role of the printed textbook[1] from authoritative serial repository to a modular, customizable, linkable, interactive hub that provides a clear overview of the domain, short summaries of key content, links to more detailed online resources and embedded self-assessment. It will be improved by student feedback. Our open-source wiki for introductory mechanics uses ideas from modeling physics to encourage strategic, concept-based problem solving. We invite collaborators writing textbooks in other domains to help us reinvent the textbook!
[1] P. Bierman, “Initial Workshop Summary”, NSF Workshop Reconsidering the Textbook, May 24-26, 2006 (National Academy of Sciences, WA).
Statement of the problem or issue
We address the central mismatch in teaching introductory physics by combining pedagogy and a textbook taking advantage of electronic format. This is a cognitive mismatch: textbooks present mostly factual and conceptual knowledge and some procedural knowledge — but strategic knowledge, the ability to determine which factual and procedural knowledge is relevant to a new problem, is lacking.
Description of activity, project, solution, and outcome
We will concentrate on the development of the possibilities of an all electronic textbook to interact with students’ minds in new ways and especially to use an improved pedagogy.
Importance or relevance to other faculty, staff, students, departments, and programs
We seek collaborators who are interested in writing their own textbook to help develop an electronic textbook environment that will work across disciplines. Dave Pritchard, Physics Dept., MIT
Andrew Pawl, Physics Dept. MIT
Analia Barrantes, ESG and Physics Dept.
Saif Rayyan, RLE
(Presented at MIT Educational Technology Fair 2009)
Topic Area(s)
2. Finding and integrating digital content into the curriculum
7. Others: Perfecting an Online Textbook Environment