NRF2011-EDU001-EL001 EduLab Project Scaling-up Reflections on Using Open Source Physics

TL;DR

This paper discusses the EduLab project's efforts to develop, test, and scale open source physics models for ICT-enhanced teaching, aiming to improve physics education through collaborative, inquiry-based learning tools.

Contribution

It introduces a scalable model for developing and sharing open source physics simulations to enhance inquiry-based learning in classrooms.

Findings

Successful collaboration with international researchers on physics models.

Development of multiple open source physics simulations for education.

Evidence of scalable implementation across Singapore schools.

Abstract

eduLab (MOE, 2012b) is a key programme under the third MasterPlan for ICT in Education (mp3) where teachers with good ideas for an ICT-enhanced lesson or curriculum (learning with computer models through inquiry, example PhET (PhET, 2011) can come together to collaborate. eduLab aims to support teachers to develop, prototype and test-bed their lesson ideas (journey in 2012-2014) while ensuring that the results, in the form of complete lesson packages (see http://edulab.moe.edu.sg/edulab-programmes/existing-projects third project), are scalable across schools to benefit the wider teaching community. Our models and lessons are downloadable here http://weelookang.blogspot.sg/2013/03/moe-excel-fest-2013-scaling.html We have collaborated with namely Professor Francisco Esquembre, Professor Fu-Kwun Hwang and Wolfgang Christian and created Open Source Computer Models on the topic of 1 Dimensional Collision (Loo Kang Wee, 2012b), Falling Magnet in Coil, Ripple Tank (Duffy, 2010; G. H. Goh et al., 2012; Ong, Ng, Goh, & Wee, 2012; Ong, Ng, Teo, et al., 2012; Loo Kang Wee, Duffy, Aguirregabiria, & Hwang, 2012), Superposition Waves, 2 Mass Gravity, Earth-Moon Gravity, Kepler's Solar System and Geostationary Orbit (J. Goh & Wee, 2011; Loo Kang Wee, 2012a; Loo Kang Wee & Esquembre, 2010; Loo Kang Wee & Goh, 2013) for enriching interactive engagement (Christian & Belloni, 2000; Hake, 1998) previously lacking in our teaching practices, but we argue is essential for deepening learning (L.K. Wee & Lye, 2012) by doing. We hope to share some of the scaling-up learning points from ideas (researchers Francisco Fu-Kwun and Wolfgang) to practice (teachers in RVHS, YJC, IJC, AJC and SRJC) supported by specialist (ETD), contextualized and made possible through this edulab funding initiative by National Research Fund, managed by National Institute of Education (NIE) and Ministry of Education, Singapore.