Scaffolded Training Environment for Physics Programming (STEPP)

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Abstract

We are a year into the development of a software tool for modeling and simulation (M&S) of 1D and 2D kinematics consistent with Newton’s laws of motion. Our goal has been to introduce modeling and computational thinking into learning high-school physics. There are two main contributions from an M&S perspective: (1) the use of conceptual modeling, and (2) the application of Finite State Machines (FSMs) to model physical behavior. Both of these techniques have been used by the M&S community to model high-level “soft systems” and discrete events. However, they have not been used to teach physics and represent ways in which M&S can improve physics education. We introduce the NSF-sponsored STEPP project along with its hypothesis and goals. We also describe the development of the three STEPP modules, the server architecture, the assessment plan, and the expected outcomes. ©2019 Association of Computing Machinery.

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Keywords

Thought and thinking, Concept mapping, Sequential machine theory, Modeling, Physics, Programming (Electronic computers), Scaffolding, Computer simulation, Computer software, Sequential machine theory, Programming (Mathematics), Scaffolding, Computer-aided software engineering

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National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1741756

Rights

©2019 Association of Computing Machinery

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