This paper explores the remarkable success of one 7th grade student as she discovers foundational concepts of magnetism while engaging in an NGSS-aligned unit on modeling magnetism. Student success in modeling is of particular interest in the PER community, through understanding how students are able to create mechanistic models, we can reveal core practices which in turn can be used to inform instructional design. Here we examine one student who was able to synthesize the key concepts of magnetism: that a magnet is comprised of microscopic magnetic dipoles and that the orientation of these dipoles determines the orientation of the macroscopic polarity. We present significant excerpts of the progression of the modeling process in order to illustrate her iterative use of evidence to guide her reasoning, her use of prior knowledge, and the roles of teachers and peers.

A Case of Successful Learning about Magnetism through the Use of Evidence

Thinking Like a Physicist in the Middle-grades: Promising Results from 7th-grade Students Studying Magnetism

There is a growing interest in the scientific practice of Developing and Using Models as it is included in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS, 2013). However, often the focus has been on models that capture how a given phenomenon looks, rather than models for explaining and predicting how scientific phenomena work. We developed a curriculum focused on supporting students in creating mechanistic (or explanatory) models of magnetism that can be used to make predictions. In this curriculum, students: explore an anchoring phenomenon, create models, investigate additional magnetic properties while collecting data, revise their models, and finally, through consensus building activities, create a consensus model that they present to the class. We have found that this process allows students to create models of magnetism that are both explanatory and predictive. We will present this curriculum and show examples of student work to help participants use this in their own classrooms.

Creating Explanatory and Predictive Models of Magnetism in the Middle-Grades

Poster Session I

poster

Join us in exploring emergent themes in PER as a scholarly endeavor and as a research community!  Since its inception, PER has served as a confluence of discipline, theory, research methodology, practice, and application.  How have these facets and the interplays among them been fruitful for physics education globally, regionally, locally, or otherwise?  And, how have our successes and interactions influenced the very nature of PER itself?
Following the lead of AAPT for the summer meeting, PERC 20/20 was virtual. Enjoy browsing the content.

PERC SM 20

Since its inception, PER has served as a confluence of discipline, theory, research methodology, practice, and application.  How have these facets and the interplays among them been fruitful for physics education globally, regionally, locally, or otherwise?  And, how have our successes and interactions influenced the very nature of PER itself?

PS-A-7 Physics Education Research  Poster Set 4

The 2020 AAPT Virtual Summer Meeting brought together physics educators from around the globe to learn about the latest in physics theory, research methodology and education from leaders in their field. The program featured plenary speakers, sessions, workshops and many special activities.

For more information please visit the 2020 AAPT Virtual Summer Meeting page at: https://www.aapt.org/Conferences/SM2020/index.cfm.


AAPT SM 20

The 2020 AAPT Virtual Summer Meeting brought together physics educators from around the globe to learn about the latest in physics theory, research methodology and education from leaders in their field. 

Tamara Young

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A Case of Successful Learning about Magnetism through the Use of Evidence

Thinking Like a Physicist in the Middle-grades: Promising Results from 7th-grade Students Studying Magnetism

Creating Explanatory and Predictive Models of Magnetism in the Middle-Grades

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