Physics
and Fun with Clicks
(This page is currently
maintained by Thushari
Jayasekera)
- Teaching
Philosophy in a Nutshell
Here
- How
do we make the Teaching and Learning
process simpler and entertaining Here
- Computers
in STEM education - We should not
re-invent the wheel Here
- Physics
and Fun with Clicks - Current Course
Content Here
- Acknowledgement
Here
Teaching
Philosophy in a Nutshell
Nothing
is Complicated...
If you
feel what you do is
complicated, you may be making
some mistakes.....
Nothing
can be complicated....... Nature
is Simple......
As physics educators, it
is our duty to make the art of
looking at natural things simpler
and joyful. Our goal is to make the
new generation fascinated by the
nature, help them base their
knowledge to explore ways to save
the natural resources and to use
those resources to make our lives
better.
Teaching
and learning process should be
an equally entertaining human
interaction for both the
students and the instructors.
How do we make the
teaching/learning process simple
and entertaining?
Today's
student is interested and well in
touch with technology. To make the
art of learning simple and
enjoyable, we must bring this
interest in to class to facilitate
teaching. I am
fascinated by the idea of
"Computers in STEM Education".
"We
should not re-invent the
wheel, Yet, we need to know
how to create a wheel, which
is already invented".
Lot of work has
been done in the field of
"Computers for STEM Education" and
there are lot of computer
applications available; for
example
PhET and Compadre
-open source physics). Open
Source Physics (hosted by
compadre) uses Easy Java
Simulations. Easy
Java Simulations is a tool box
set for the scientists, who do not
wnat to write lot of Java codes, yet
are interested in creating
simulations to see the connection
between physics class and nature. Mathematica
CDF player is another great
resource for creating interactive
applications for facilitate
teaching/learning.
It is very useful to have
complete set of course materials
with these computer applications
embedded in them. It
is even more useful for the
student (especially in upper
level classes), if they can open
the source code and modify it.
This is the scope of this
webpage: "Physics and Fun
with Clicks": bring
selected existing resources into
class, and get the stundents engaged
in exploring those activities. I
also want to get the students
engaged in creating new simulations.
In particular, eventually, I want
this web page to be driven by
upper-level students.
This webpage is still at initial
stage. In my current course
materials, I am including the
applications from PhET,
Open
Source Physics, and Mathematica.
Physics
and Fun with Clicks
This
webpage, "Physics and Fun with
Clicks" is maintained to bring
the "Computers in STEM Education" in
to class. Please note that, this is
an ongoing project: new materials
will be added to the page as I get
to teach new classes (or as I get
time to develop new materials).
Suggestions
are always welcome; Please send me
an email.
Current Course Content:
- Undegraduate
Classical Mechanics - PHYS 310
(in collaboration with Dr.
Poopalasingam Sivakumar at Delaware
State University) Link
- Graduate
Quantum Mechanics (PHYS 530B) Link
- Undergraduate
Solid State Physics (PHYS 425) Link
- Graduate
Solid State Physics (PHYS 565) Link
- Group
Theory in Solid State Physics Link
Acknowledgement:
- Dr. Tony
Andrady (for seeding the idea of this
project in my brain)
- Dr.
Bruce Mason (Director of Compadre for
useful discussions)
- AAPT
workshop on "Building a thriving physics
program"
- AAPT New
Faculty Workshop Organizers and Dr.
Bruce Mason, Dr. Wolfgang Christian, Dr.
Mario Baloni, Dr. Michael Dubson
and all other speakers.
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