PHYS 107/107L Physical Science
The course allows students to experience hands-on science via an inquiry-based constructivist model in both the classroom and lab. Course content will focus on force and motion/interactions, energy transfer and conservation, wave properties, electromagnetic radiation, structure and properties of matter, chemical reactions, and related topics covered in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Basic math skills are needed to illustrate some of these principles and answer/solve related questions/problems. Research-supported best teaching practices are used to incorporate this content with the use of technology (e.g. microcomputer motion and sound sensors) in the lab culminating in two formal lab reports and a lesson plan presentation. Students refine their understanding through small group and entire class discussions (including some problem solving), class demonstrations, lab experiments, and computer simulations and tutorials to address their misconceptions and construct scientific models.
Prerequisite
Eligible to enroll in
MATH 070 or higher
Hours Weekly
3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab weekly
Course Objectives
- Recognize physics and chemistry misconceptions and support scientific models through class discussions and by comparing these ideas with results from hands-on lab
experiments. - Use inquiry-based learning and the constructivist learning model to incorporate understanding of the basic physics/chemistry concepts as related to Next Generations
Science Standards (NGSS).
- Identify and properly operate common lab equipment (e.g. balance scales, batteries with light bulbs, etc.); computer or interface data-gathering tools (e.g. motion detectors,
temperature probes, gas pressure sensors, etc.) with both numerical and graphical output; and computer simulations to gather information about a system or phenomenon. - Demonstrate an increased conceptual knowledge in physics/chemistry pertaining to content covered in NGSS, including force and motion/ interactions, energy transfer and
conservation, wave properties, electromagnetic radiation, structure and properties of matter, and chemical reactions. - Develop and demonstrate an understanding of explanatory and predictive models for physics and chemistry topics listed in Objective 4 using appropriate symbols, notations, and
vocabulary. - Predict, develop, and appraise models and describe phenomena to include simple math equations by using experiments (some self-design) and experimental results and
communicate these findings through oral and written reports. - Develop skills in the integration of physics/chemistry with Common Core math and reading content.
- Integrate physics and chemistry principles with simple math equations, as needed, to describe and explain basic everyday phenomena and identify possible solutions to related
problems. - Evaluate and explain the reasonableness of solutions identified in Objective 8.
Course Objectives
- Recognize physics and chemistry misconceptions and support scientific models through class discussions and by comparing these ideas with results from hands-on lab
experiments.This objective is a course Goal Only
Learning Activity Artifact
- Other (please fill out box below)
- Lab report
- Use inquiry-based learning and the constructivist learning model to incorporate understanding of the basic physics/chemistry concepts as related to Next Generations
Science Standards (NGSS).
This objective is a course Goal Only
Learning Activity Artifact
- Other (please fill out box below)
- Lab report
- Identify and properly operate common lab equipment (e.g. balance scales, batteries with light bulbs, etc.); computer or interface data-gathering tools (e.g. motion detectors,
temperature probes, gas pressure sensors, etc.) with both numerical and graphical output; and computer simulations to gather information about a system or phenomenon.This objective is a course Goal Only
Learning Activity Artifact
- Other (please fill out box below)
- Lab report
- Demonstrate an increased conceptual knowledge in physics/chemistry pertaining to content covered in NGSS, including force and motion/ interactions, energy transfer and
conservation, wave properties, electromagnetic radiation, structure and properties of matter, and chemical reactions.This objective is a course Goal Only
Learning Activity Artifact
- Other (please fill out box below)
- Lab report
- Develop and demonstrate an understanding of explanatory and predictive models for physics and chemistry topics listed in Objective 4 using appropriate symbols, notations, and
vocabulary.
Learning Activity Artifact
- Other (please fill out box below)
- Exam questions
Procedure for Assessing Student Learning
- Scientific Reasoning Rubric
- Predict, develop, and appraise models and describe phenomena to include simple math equations by using experiments (some self-design) and experimental results and
communicate these findings through oral and written reports.This objective is a course Goal Only
Learning Activity Artifact
- Other (please fill out box below)
- Written assignment and student presentation
- Develop skills in the integration of physics/chemistry with Common Core math and reading content.
This objective is a course Goal Only
Learning Activity Artifact
- Other (please fill out box below)
- Homework problems; exam questions
- Integrate physics and chemistry principles with simple math equations, as needed, to describe and explain basic everyday phenomena and identify possible solutions to related
problems.
Learning Activity Artifact
- Other (please fill out box below)
- Exam questions
Procedure for Assessing Student Learning
- Scientific Reasoning Rubric
- Evaluate and explain the reasonableness of solutions identified in Objective 8.
Learning Activity Artifact
- Other (please fill out box below)
- Exam questions
Procedure for Assessing Student Learning
- Scientific Reasoning Rubric