Force and Motion: Pedagogical Content Knowledge for Teaching Physics

This physics course is designed to expose teachers of introductory physics, from novice to experienced, to effective tools for teaching physics at the high school level. Learn (or re-learn) basic concepts, including Newton’s laws, motion, momentum, and energy. Become a more competent and engaging teacher by familiarizing yourself with the historical development of these concepts, and with the physics education research literature about ways to teach the concepts effectively. Learn to employ research-based methods to help your students succeed in physics.

It covers the following content:

• Kinematics
• Projectile motion
• Forces and Newton’s laws
• Impulse and work
• Conservation of energy
• Readings of, and discussion about, the conceptual history of physics and relevant education research

In your final projects, you will develop a research-based lesson plan that you can use in your own teaching.