Developed by: Wolfgang Christian, Douglas Brown, Fransisco Esquembre
middle schoolhigh schoolintro collegeinter-mediateupper levelgrad school other
calc based
alg based
Overview
What? Open source code libraries, tools, and compiled simulations for physics, computation, and computer modeling. Includes curriculum resources that engage students and enable them to discover new ways to understand, describe, explain and predict physical phenomena.
Why? OSP is well-maintained by a devoted group of authors.The content scope is very comprehensive and the site supports an active, inclusive community dedicated to computation and computer modeling in physics. Models, simulations, and tools are all cost-free.
Why not? The content scope of OSP is robust, but there are certain gaps: Fluid Mechanics, Relativity, Atomic Physics, Medical Physics. Many of the models in the library are older Java files, which may not open in all browsers.
Student skills developed
- Conceptual understanding
- Problem-solving skills
- Lab skills
Instructor effort required
- Low
Resources required
- Projector
- Computers for students
Resources
Research
Research-basedThis is the lowest level of research validation, corresponding to at least one of the validation categories below.
Research Validation Summary
Based on Research Into:
- theories of how students learn
- student ideas about specific topics
Demonstrated to Improve:
- conceptual understanding
- problem-solving skills
- lab skills
- beliefs and attitudes
- attendance
- retention of students
- success of underrepresented groups
- performance in subsequent classes
Studied using:
- cycle of research and redevelopment
- student interviews
- classroom observations
- analysis of written work
- research at multiple institutions
- research by multiple groups
- peer-reviewed publication
References
- W. Christian, M. Belloni, F. Esquembre, B. Mason, L. Barbato, and M. Riggsbee, The Physlet Approach to Simulation Design, Phys. Teach. 53 (7), 419 (2015).
