The CPU Project


CPU Project Overview


Introduction
      Computer software and innovative pedagogical methods can support the creation of significantly more effective learning environments. The CPU Project presented a solution to this challenge. The project built on previous work incorporating computer technology to build a constructivist-oriented learning environment (Goldberg, F. & Bendall, S., Am. J. Phys. 63(11), 978-991, 1995). Guided by an inquiry-based pedagogy, CPU developed a set of curriculum units and associated simulation software that are now available from The Learning Team.
      Through its work with twenty-five Leadership Teams, CPU has had a broad impact throughout the United States on hundreds of teachers and their students. Workshop Highlights takes an in-depth look at this impact, and in Classroom Tales, CPU teachers and students share their thoughts. Special Recognition & Activities spotlights the contributions of some teachers who have been members of CPU Leadership Teams.
      The CPU Project Staff included over forty people between 1995 and 2000, including those involved with software design and development, authoring the curriculum units, and providing technical support.

CPU Project Goals

Development Goal - to develop a pedagogy, content units, and powerful computer software to support an environment where learners can construct knowledge in physics. Materials are appropriate for secondary classrooms, teacher workshops and some university courses.

Dissemination Goal - to offer two types of workshops to K-12 teachers throughout the United States. The workshops used the pedagogy, software, and units developed by the CPU Project. The two types of workshops were:

  1. Content workshop. This type of workshop focused on content. It was ideal for elementary teachers and some middle school teachers who want to develop a better understanding of various physics concepts.

  2. Implementation workshop. This type of workshop focused on how to implement the CPU pedagogy, materials and software in secondary school classrooms. It was designed primarily for high school teachers, but it was also appropriate for some middle school teachers and university instructors.

CPU Curriculum Units

Light & Color

Motion & Force

Sound & Waves

Static Electricity

Current Electricity

Underpinnings

Small Particles

CPU Curriculum Units
      The CPU Project developed seven curriculum units: Light and Color, Force and Motion, Waves and Sound, Static Electicity and Magnetism, Current Electricity, Underpinnings, and Nature of Matter. Brief unit descriptions are available on this web site by clicking on the unit icons. Longer unit overviews are also available as both web pages and Microsoft Word documents.
      CPU units are designed to be worked through on the computer, and this use of technology provides opportunities that are not available in a pencil and paper format. However, the units can be printed out and used in classrooms not equipped with computers, or perhaps equipped with only one demonstration computer and an LCD panel.

CPU Simulation Software
     CPU simulation software was originally developed using the OpenDoc Framework. In March 1997, Apple Computer announced that it would no longer continue development of the OpenDoc Framework, the tools necessary to develop OpenDoc software. The part of the Framework for Windows development was never completed. Consequently, the CPU software was reprogrammed in Java, a platform-independent solution.
      As the Java software was developed, the capabilities of the CPU software programs were revised and expanded, and new programs for the Waves & Sound Unit were developed. This updated, revised, and expanded CPU Simulation Software package is now available for purchase from The Learning Team. The preliminary OpenDoc software & activities package is available for purchase from CPU directly on a limited basis.

CPU Pedagogy
      CPU pedagogy and materials are closely aligned with the NRC National Science Education Standards (NSES) and the AAAS Benchmarks for Science Literacy. In addition to content and pedagogy standards, the project is in alignment with the standards in areas such as the nature of science, science as a human endeavor, and nature of scientific inquiry. The pedagogy is based on cycles of:

  1. eliciting students' ideas

  2. guided development in which students modify or discard their old ideas and/or develop new ones in a movement towards target ideas

  3. application of target ideas to new situations

The cycles of elicitation, development and application are more fully described in the Pedagogy section of this site.

The CPU Project - Copyright ©2000