Hybrid Kinematics Course Using Advanced Mathematics For Ninth Grade Classes

Physics is rarely taught in Israel’s middle schools. The national curriculum for compulsory science classes comprises a “tasting menu” of science topics, including biology, earth sciences, chemistry, physics and technology, combined. The science teacher is typically trained in biology, and the students come from all ability groups in mathematics. As a result, not only is physics sidelined, but in the occasional cases when it is taught, the level of analytical sophistication and quantitative modeling is rather low.

In an attempt to create opportunities that are more challenging for students of the top ability groups in mathematics, in recent years many schools have opened separate and “boutique” excellence classes alongside the regular science class. These classes tend to offer physics studies as well as advanced mathematics and computer science. The physics that is taught in these classes concentrates on accelerating learning towards the high school curriculum and providing enrichment content to increase motivation.

The Technion is now proposing a new innovative approach with new content. The idea is to develop learning materials for excellence classes in ninth grade that will use advanced mathematics modelling in learning the topic of kinematics. Kinematics is a subfield of mechanics, which describes the motion of objects, without considering the forces that cause them to move. It is also considered a branch of mathematics, and even sometimes called “geometry of motion.”

Kinematics is included in the tenth grade curriculum, but teachers tend to teach it quickly by skipping its mathematical characteristics. Now, the Technion plans to offer a deeper approach, which will use real world examples, such as swimming in a pool, javelin throwing in the Olympic Games and movement of astrophysical objects. These examples will require measurement, data analysis, controlling for errors, and contending with uncertainty by using statistical models.

The course will be built in a modular manner appropriate to the online environment now being used during this current hybrid home-schooling period. Through this platform, students will be able to follow a sequence of activities and to interact with simulations, models, lectures and presentations by experts. Teachers will be able to integrate these online learning materials into their class instruction, in accordance with their teaching preferences and experience. The Technion believes that experienced teachers will customize the suggested activities while inexperienced teachers could follow the suggested sequence, thereby developing their own teaching skills.

After presenting a full-scale program to the foundation, we asked the Technion to design a first step, which will be pilot tested before committing to a wider implementation. The Technion therefore proposes that development will include one course to be taught in 20 classes over 15 teaching hours. The 20 teachers will be trained online and supported while teaching. By the end of the year an assessment report will be prepared, seeking to understand if and how teachers use the course, its effect on student learning (aligned with PISA levels 5-6 in mathematics) and whether there is interest in wider development and implementation.

* The text presented above shows the grant as approved by the Foundation Board / Grant 403