Session #1
Grade Level
8th - 12th Grade : Science, Technology
Start Date
3-3-2023 8:30 AM
End Date
3-3-2023 9:30 AM
Description
Computational thinking and the use of computers to solve problems is rapidly becoming an indispensable skill, and physics class is one natural place to develop it. However, the perceived necessity of learning a programming language can deter both teachers and students from approaching this crucial topic. We will show how a simple spreadsheet can be used to solve remarkably complex physics problems, some of them analytically unsolvable, in just a few minutes. Attendees must bring a computer.
Included in
Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Educational Methods Commons, Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons
COMPUTATIONAL THINKING IN PHYSICS CLASS - WITHOUT PROGRAMMING!
Computational thinking and the use of computers to solve problems is rapidly becoming an indispensable skill, and physics class is one natural place to develop it. However, the perceived necessity of learning a programming language can deter both teachers and students from approaching this crucial topic. We will show how a simple spreadsheet can be used to solve remarkably complex physics problems, some of them analytically unsolvable, in just a few minutes. Attendees must bring a computer.