Aims

• Introduce the contextual approach to physics learning and teaching
• Provide exemplars of contextual themes, activities, IT-based learning and teaching resources, and links to resources worldwide
• Encourage tryouts and experience sharing using the contextual approach among physics teachers in Hong Kong
• Encourage the sharing of contextual learning and teaching resources

Roles

The project is funded by the Information Technology Education Resources Centre (ITERC), Education and Manpower Bureau. The construction of the website, learning and teaching resources and the tryouts are conducted jointly by the Science Education Section, Education and Manpower Bureau and the Department of Physics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Contents

• Main
  • [Introduction]: aims of establishing the web site, the roles of Education and Manpower Bureau and Department of Physics, CUHK in this project, contents of the web site, acknowledgment.
  • [About us]: Steering Committee and Working Committee of this project.
  • [Site map]: a quick reference to the web site.
  • [FAQ]: Frequently asked questions about the web site and download of teaching materials.
  
  
• Approach
  • [Teaching Method]
    An overview on contextual learning and teaching in physics, its rationales, pros and cons, and reflections on the design of resources
    • What is contextual learning and teaching in physics?
    • Some reflections on the design of contextual learning and teaching materials
    • Professor Kenneth Young's talk on "The Contextual Approach to Teaching"
    
    
  • [Tryouts]: experience sharing, teaching plan and video clips of the tryout classes.
  • [Curriculum]: curriculum guide for 2003 provided by Education and Manpower Bureau, links to sample resources in the web site.
  • [Reference]: references and resources to physics contextual learning and teaching worldwide. Rationales, teaching approaches, students' attitudes and beliefs, resources, evaluations, curriculum design, suggested contexts, etc.
  
  
• Teachers
  • [Teachers' zone]: update teachers with news of the web site, links to the notice board of Science Education Section, EMB, membership application.
  • [Forum]: a virtual place for teachers and educators to share teaching experience and opinions.
  • [Sharing area]: a place for teachers and educators to share contextual learning teaching resources.
  
  
• Mechanics
  Exemplars of contextual themes, activities, IT-based learning and teaching resources in mechanics.
  • [Kinematics]
  • [Force and motion]
  • [Momentum]
  • [Energy]
  
  
• Heat
  Exemplars of contextual themes, activities, IT-based learning and teaching resources in heat.
  • Temperature and Heat
  • Heat Transfer
  • Change of states
  
  

Acknowledgment

We want to thank the teachers and students who have participated in the tryout classes, for the great effort they have put in preparing and conducting the tryouts, and the valuable feedback leading to the improvement of this website.