Indicates a research-demonstrated benefit

Tutorials in Introductory Physics

Overview

A curriculum designed to supplement traditional instruction in introductory calculus-based physics. It consists of guided-inquiry worksheets that students complete in small groups during recitation sections, along with homework, pretests, and exam questions. Instructors engage with students using Socratic dialog. These tutorials use an Elicit-Confront-Resolve model in which questions elicit known student difficulties and then help students to confront and resolve these difficulties.

	Type of Method	Curriculum supplement, Tutorials
	Level	Designed for: Intro College Calculus-based Can be adapted for: Intro College Algebra-based, High School
	Setting	Designed for: Recitation/Discussion Session, Homework Can be adapted for: Lecture - Large (30+ students), Lecture - Small (<30 students), Lab
	Coverage	Many topics with less depth
	Topics	Mechanics, Electricity / Magnetism, Waves / Optics, Thermal / Statistical, Modern / Quantum
	Instructor Effort	Medium
	Resource Needs	Teaching Assistants / Learning Assistants, Cost for students, Tables arranged for group work, minimal equipment for experiments, butcher paper or white boards at each table
	Skills	Designed for: Conceptual understanding of physics content, Representing knowledge in multiple ways Can be adapted for: Problem-solving skills, Connecting conceptual and mathematical understanding, Understanding how physics relates to the real world, Reflecting on one's own learning
	Research Validation	Based on research into: how students learn, student ideas about specific topics Demonstrated to improve: scores on multiple choice conceptual tests, scores on written conceptual tests Studied using: conceptual pre/post exams, problem-solving pre/post exams, beliefs pre/post exams, student interviews, classroom observations, video of students, research conducted at multiple institutions, research conducted by someone other than developers
	Compatible Methods	Peer Instruction, PhET, JiTT, Ranking Tasks, ILDs, CGPS, Physlets, Context-Rich Problems, RealTime Physics, TIPERs, ABP Tutorials, SCALE-UP, OSP, SDI Labs, OST Tutorials, Thinking Problems, Workbook for Introductory Physics, LA Program, CAE TPS, MBL, CPU, SCL, TEFA, Tools for Scientific Thinking, Tutorials, Clickers
	Similar Methods	ABP Tutorials, OST Tutorials, PBI, Lecture-Tutorials, QuILTs, Thermal Tutorials, Mechanics Tutorials, Tutorials
	Developer(s)	Lillian C. McDermott, Peter S. Shaffer and the Physics Education Group at UW
	Website	http://www.phys.washington.edu/groups/peg/tut.html