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Exploring Light: Hands-on Activities and Strategies for Teachers

Approx. 5 hours to complete

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Course Summary

Learn the physics of light and color, and how to teach it effectively to students of all ages.

Key Learning Points

Understand the fundamental principles of light and color
Develop effective teaching strategies for students of all ages
Explore real-world applications of light and color

Learning Outcomes

Understand the physics of light and color
Develop effective teaching strategies for students of all ages
Apply knowledge of light and color to real-world scenarios

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Basic knowledge of physics
Interest in teaching and education

Course Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Course Format

Online
Self-paced

Similar Courses

Teaching Science Online
Introduction to Physics

Related Education Paths

Notable People in This Field

Science Educator
Astrophysicist

Related Books

Description

This is an Exploratorium teacher professional development course taught by Teacher Institute staff, open to any science teacher (particularly middle or high school level) and science enthusiast. This is a hands-on workshop that explores topics and strategies teachers can use to help their students become active investigators of light.

Watch a preview video (copy and paste this link into your browser): https://youtu.be/fPvT_quBVIw There are four weeks of course content, which require 2-4 hours per week. Each module builds upon the previous one, so we strongly suggest you follow the sequence we've outlined rather than skip ahead or do the course in less time. The course is designed to give you an opportunity to learn and share with others, not test what you know. There are weekly activity and reflection assignments, but these will not be graded. To receive credit for this course, you will need to complete the peer-reviewed final assignment. As a participant, you will: - Watch videos that demonstrate natural phenomena and the Exploratorium's approach to teaching and learning - Conduct personal investigations by engaging in hands-on activities based in those phenomena - Reflect and share your experience doing activities - Discuss and identify challenges and opportunities for teaching - Devise a lesson of your own based on one or more of the activities Each week, we'll look at a different light-related topic: We will start by examining human visual perception, then take a brief historical tour of our evolving scientific understanding. We’ll also look at optics and optical instruments and finish by looking at the wave nature of light. To get the most out of this experience, you'll have to try out some activities! In return, you'll get lots of valuable teaching resources, an in-depth understanding of the subject matter, and useful tips and techniques for the classroom. NOTE: This is a hands-on workshop, so you will need to buy or find materials. All of the materials required are inexpensive and should be easy to obtain, and we welcome substitutions! A separate list of materials is available for each activity.

Outline

Introduction to Exploring Light
Course Preview
Welcome to the Course
About the Exploratorium Teacher Institute
Course Format and Expectations
Assignments and Grading
Recorded Instructor Hangouts

Week One: Perception
Welcome to Perception
Playing with Rainbows
Light Stick Exhibit
Visual Channels Exhibit
Explore Colored Shadows
Make Your Own Bird in a Cage Illusion
Test Your Peripheral Vision
Recommended Resources
Try Perception Activities

Week Two: History of Our Ideas About Light
Welcome to Week Two
Disappearing Glass Rods Exhibit
Newton's Prisms Exhibit
Build Your Own Oil Spot Photometer
History of Light: An Overview
Try Week Two Activities

Week Three: Optics and Image Making
Welcome to Week Three
Optics Lesson: How Does a Lens Work?
Magic Wand Exhibit
Playing with a Giant Mirror
Poking Fun at Light
Recommended Resources
Try Week Three Activities

Week Four: The Wave Nature of Light
Welcome to Week Four
Long-Path Diffraction Exhibit
Soap-Film Painting Exhibit
Build Your Own CD Spectroscope
Explore Interference with Soap Film on a Can
Deepen Your Understanding with the Soap-Film Interference Model
Measure the Efficiency of a Solar Cell
Introduction to the Wave Nature of Light
Try Week Four Activities

Summary of User Reviews

Discover the fascinating world of light and color with this comprehensive online course on teaching light and color. Students have praised the course for its engaging content and interactive learning experience.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

Engaging content

Pros from User Reviews

Interactive learning experience
Clear explanations of complex concepts
Engaging video lectures
Great resources and supplementary materials
Excellent support from instructors and community

Cons from User Reviews

Some students found the course too basic
Lack of hands-on activities
Slow pacing in some parts of the course
Not suitable for advanced learners
Limited focus on practical applications

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Exploring Light: Hands-on Activities and Strategies for Teachers

This is an Exploratorium teacher professional development course taught by Teacher Institute staff, open to any science teacher (particularly middle or high school level) and science enthusiast....

Save Course