Teaching Computation in Introductory Physics using Complex Problems

TL;DR

This paper presents a method for teaching computation in introductory physics courses by integrating complex, group-based problem-solving activities using VPython, aiming to enhance computational skills in STEM students.

Contribution

It introduces a decoupled lecture and lab approach with specific activities and assessments for teaching computational modeling in physics courses.

Findings

Students learn to model motion using VPython effectively.

The approach promotes collaborative problem-solving skills.

Computational instruction is successfully integrated into physics curriculum.

Abstract

Computation is a central aspect of modern science and engineering work, and yet, computational instruction has yet to fully pervade university STEM curricula. In physics, we have begun to integrate computation into our courses in a variety of ways. Here, we discuss a method for integrating computation into calculus-based mechanics where the lecture and laboratory for the course are decoupled. At Michigan State University, we have developed a "lecture" course, called "Projects and Practices in Physics", where science and engineering students solve complex problems in groups of four using analytical and computational techniques. In this paper, we provide details on the computational instruction, activities, and assessment used to teach these introductory students how to model motion using VPython.