Models and Modelling in an Integrated Physics and Mathematics Course

This is an on-going study of an integrated first-year engineering course of mathematics and physics using models and modelling instruction. This innovation involves: redesigning the course content, combining teaching strategies, reshaping the classroom setting, and the use of technology. The experimental course was taught at a large private university in northern Mexico. This study analyses the students’ final projects of this integrated course. The general comments made by the students were positive and affirmed this as a valuable learning experience. Students noted that the course reduced boundaries between physics and mathematics, helping them to better understand the application and need for the mathematics content.

[1]  P. Dirac.  XI.—The Relation between Mathematics and Physics , 1940 .

[2]  L. Festinger,et al.  A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance , 2017 .

[3]  D. Hestenes.  Toward a modeling theory of physics instruction , 1987 .

[4]  David Hestenes,et al.  A modeling method for high school physics instruction , 1995 .

[5]  Richard Phillips Feynman,et al.  The meaning of it all : thoughts of a citizen-scientist , 1998 .

[6]  Bruce A. Sherwood,et al.  Matter and Interactions , 2001 .

[7]  Gerald L. Bradley,et al.  Cálculo de una variable , 2001 .

[8]  Ibrahim A. Halloun,et al.  Modeling Theory in Science Education , 2004 .

[9]  Richard Lesh,et al.  Mathematics education as a design science , 2005 .

[10]  Claus Michelsen,et al.  Functions: a modelling tool in mathematics and science , 2006 .

[11]  Joaquín Martínez-Torregrosa,et al.  Mathematics in Physics Education: Scanning Historical Evolution of the Differential to Find a More Appropriate Model for Teaching Differential Calculus in Physics , 2006 .

[12]  Noah S. Podolefsky,et al.  New Instrument for Measuring Student Beliefs about Physics and Learning Physics: The Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey. , 2006 .

[13]  Jenna Carpenter.  Integrating Calculus And Introductory Science Concepts , 2007 .

[14]  Eric Brewe.  Modeling theory applied: Modeling Instruction in introductory physics , 2008 .

[15]  Werner Blum,et al.  Mathematical Modelling: Can It Be Taught And Learnt? , 2009 .

[16]  David Hestenes,et al.  Modeling Theory for Math and Science Education , 2010 .

[17]  Juan Antonio Alanís,et al.  Cálculo de una variable. Reconstrucción para el aprendizaje y la enseñanza , 2011 .

[18]  Eric Brewe,et al.  Investigating Student Communities with Network Analysis of Interactions in a Physics Learning Center. , 2012 .

[19]  Doug Szajda,et al.  Challenging Disciplinary Boundaries in the First Year: A New Introductory Integrated Science Course for STEM Majors , 2012 .

[20]  Angeles Dominguez,et al.  Integrated physics and math course for engineering students: A first experience , 2013 .

[21]  Jean Claude Dutailly.  MATHEMATICS IN PHYSICS , 2016 .