Crafting the ideal physics classroom

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to propose a methodology of teaching that incorporated inquiry teaching strategies in the classroom with the intent of transforming the classroom into an active learning environment. The most effective and feasible method for this was to create a storyline unit lesson plan for the first unit in a high school physics classroom, kinematics. In the storyline, students aimed for an ultimate goal of creating or obtaining a projectile launcher and used that launcher to hit a target somewhere above the ground. In order to do this, students created a toolbox of various tools. These tools were the various kinematics concepts they learned throughout the unit, like trigonometric functions, derivatives, velocity versus speed, and so on.