Supporting physics teaching with research-based resources

Audio or video, podcasts

Short pieces of audio or video about a particular topic. The instructor could ask students to listen or watch as a homework assignment or show them in class. Students could be assigned to create a podcast or video.

Blogs

A regularly updated website or web page, usually written in an informal or conversational style. The instructor could ask students to write blog posts about their learning journey or a topic.

Classroom response systems

A system that can be used in a classroom to anonymously collect an answer to a question from every student. This allows rapid reliable feedback to both the instructor and the students plus individual accountability. Polling can be done through physical devices (clickers), colored cards, holding up fingers, or a web interface through students’ phones or laptops (e.g., Polleverywhere^TM, Slido^TM).

Collaborative writing

Students co-create or contribute to a written document. For example, the instructor could write a question prompt or discussion topic in a document, and ask students to work together to write their ideas in response. In Google Docs^TM, multiple students can add text, links, graphics, equations, and comments to a word-processed document, at the same time. With Padlet^TM, the instructor can create the layout for an online wall; students can respond by posting notes (with text and/or media) and “liking” others’ notes.

Course management system (CMS)

An online environment for course interactions such as posting material and submitting assignments. The CMS is usually provided or mandated by the university. Sometimes called a learning management system; LMS.

Discussion platform

Students discuss concepts or seek help in an online asynchronous forum. Many CMS have online forums, or consider Piazza^TM and Slack^TM.

Email

Electronic mail. A convenient way for the instructor and students to correspond outside of class. The instructor can send class-wide email messages, and correspond with individual students.

Listservs

A platform for sending emails to a (large) group of people at the same time, often included in the CMS.

Presentation software

Software such as Powerpoint^TM, Keynote^TM or Google Slides^TM, that allows the instructor to display slides with text, equations, graphics, etc.

Simulations or animations

Computer-based depictions of a physical phenomenon. Sets of online simulations include PhET Interactive Simulations, Physlets, and Open Source Physics.

Social annotation software

Group-based commented reading of a text. Students use the software to take notes, and then the instructor and other students can read and reply to their notes and comments (e.g., Google Docs^TM, Perusall^TM).

Web conferencing software

A communications platform that allows groups of users to connect with video, audio, and chat over the internet. The instructor can hold full class sessions on Zoom^TM or hold office hours, one-on-one conversations, etc.

Websites

Pages on the Internet. The instructor could ask students to read or find pages about a particular topic, then write reactions or answer questions about the topic. The instructor can also point to websites as resources for more information for students.

Wiki

A wiki is a collaborative website where multiple users can add and edit information on internal pages. An instructor could create a wiki for their course, where students and instructors can post resources or ideas.