Abstract: Physics is a creative discipline, but the ways we teach physics often don't reflect this creativity. At the CCSE, we have spent the last 6 years exploring how computation can help students to engage in creative research-like activities early in their physics careers. Using a teaching tool known as a computational essay, designed and developed at UiO, we have supported students in conducting and presenting independent computational research projects and studied the effects of these experiences on their views of physics and development of computational literacy. In this talk, I will describe what computational essays are, how we have used them in our teaching, and what we have learned about the importance of creative and agentic work in becoming a physicist.
Biography: Tor Ole B. Odden is an Associate Professor of physics education research at the Center for Computing in Science Education. He holds a PhD in physics education research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. Tor's research focuses on how computation can support student creativity and epistemic agency in science learning, how students acquire computational literacy, and uses of AI to improve science education research and practice.
Cake and coffee/tea is served from 12.30 to 12.45. The talk starts shortly after.