Modelling Complex Everyday Phenomena

A Seminar Concept for Dealing with Digital Tools in Physics Instruction

Abstract

Given the growing digitalization of all aspects of school, prospective physics teachers need to learn how to integrate digital learning technologies into their instruction, preferably already during their initial studies. In order to achieve this goal, the seminar concept MORPH was developed and tested at the University of Paderborn. MORPH is a project course, which emphasizes the use of digital tools for scientific work in the classroom. As central learning activities, the participants use digital tools to experimentally analyze and model physical everyday phenomena. In addition to a description of the theoretical background of the course and a concrete implementation, we also report the results of an evaluation of the first two trials. It turned out that although the students acquire the desired skills for handling digital tools, motivation to use digital media in their later teaching activities could hardly be increased.