Start Date
5-2020 12:00 AM
Description
To assist educators in satisfying the Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards the Utah State University (USU) Physics Department has developed a curriculum centered around USU Physics Day at Lagoon.
With an upcoming change to Utah's core standards and a shift to more hands-on learning styles, the use of real-world learning offered by amusement park applications is analyzed in its ability to satisfy the Utah State Bureau of Education’s (USBE) SEEd standards. Amusement park learning allows educators a vehicle to capture students’ attention in the classroom by discussing science principles in a fun and exciting manner with a promise of application rather than through tired word problems or rote memorization.
Utilizing the amusement park as a source of data allows for a truly exciting lab experience, and the opportunity to make associative memories between science and the fun had at an amusement park. By bringing data acquired at Physics Day back to the classroom, students can verify preliminary findings and cement those principles which they learned in the classroom and tested in the park. This learning approach enhances student retention, satisfies new core standards, and allows students the opportunity to continue their learning outside of the classroom.
Included in
Applying Real-World Learning through Amusement Parks to Help Teach the Upcoming Changes to Utah Core Standard
To assist educators in satisfying the Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards the Utah State University (USU) Physics Department has developed a curriculum centered around USU Physics Day at Lagoon.
With an upcoming change to Utah's core standards and a shift to more hands-on learning styles, the use of real-world learning offered by amusement park applications is analyzed in its ability to satisfy the Utah State Bureau of Education’s (USBE) SEEd standards. Amusement park learning allows educators a vehicle to capture students’ attention in the classroom by discussing science principles in a fun and exciting manner with a promise of application rather than through tired word problems or rote memorization.
Utilizing the amusement park as a source of data allows for a truly exciting lab experience, and the opportunity to make associative memories between science and the fun had at an amusement park. By bringing data acquired at Physics Day back to the classroom, students can verify preliminary findings and cement those principles which they learned in the classroom and tested in the park. This learning approach enhances student retention, satisfies new core standards, and allows students the opportunity to continue their learning outside of the classroom.
Comments
Due to COVID-19, the Symposium was not able to be held this year. However, papers and posters were still submitted.