Session 08

Knowledge Building in Modern Physics: A 21st Century Approach

How do you grow a galaxy? Where did all the matter in the universe come from? How do we know how old the universe is? Like a mini-research institute, these student-generated questions form the basis for inquiry in a knowledge building environment where students assume the role of collaborative researchers. Students share ideas, post research, ask further questions all within an on-line database. As students build upon each other's work in the database, the growth and spread of knowledge becomes the property of the community, to be examined, modified and improved. In this workshop we will show how a knowledge building community works in modern physics and examine steps which nurture a higher order questioning culture in your classroom.

Biography

Dave Doucette has taught high school science for 25 years in TDSB and YRDSB. A cognitive psychologist, Dave began teaching chemistry but was quickly seconded into physics. This fortuitously coincided with a US initiative to produce PhD's in Physics Education Research (PER) addressing the failure of physics to engage and retain students. Dave followed PER results closely, integrating research into classroom practice. He has written widely, worked with the MoE on curriculum development, with Pearson and Nelson Education on textbook reviews, presented over 150 interactive workshops at conferences and education faculties and developed summer teacher-training programs with Perimeter Institute and the OTF. In 2013 he was awarded a lifetime achievement from the OAPT and the Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) Award for Outstanding High School Physics Teaching.

Glenn Wagner has been teaching for some time now, over 24 years, with the Upper Grand District School Board. He enjoys learning how humans learn and applies many techniques in his classroom practice to help make students better learners. He is currently working toward his Ph.D. in education from OISE in the area of Knowledge Building applied to physics and science education.