Although much of the research done by modern physicists would be impossible without the use of computers, today's physics curricula do not generally reflect their importance and utility. To more tightly connect undergraduate preparation with professional practice, we integrated computational instruction into middle-division classical mechanics at the University of Colorado Boulder. Our model for integration works with the constraints of faculty who do not specialize in computation by placing a strong emphasis on an adaptable curriculum. It also includes the construction of learning goals and the design of activities consistent with those goals, including assessment of student computational fluency. We present critiques of our model as we work to develop an effective and sustainable model for computational instruction in the undergraduate curriculum.
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March 2014
PAPERS|
March 01 2014
A model for incorporating computation without changing the course: An example from middle-division classical mechanics
Marcos D. Caballero;
Marcos D. Caballero
a)
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University
, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
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Steven J. Pollock
Steven J. Pollock
Department of Physics, University of Colorado Boulder
, Boulder, Colorado 80302
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a)
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Electronic mail: [email protected]
Am. J. Phys. 82, 231–237 (2014)
Article history
Received:
March 18 2013
Accepted:
November 15 2013
Citation
Marcos D. Caballero, Steven J. Pollock; A model for incorporating computation without changing the course: An example from middle-division classical mechanics. Am. J. Phys. 1 March 2014; 82 (3): 231–237. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.4837437
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