Case Studies/Problem-Based Learning

• Mini-presentation• Physics 11 (Concept and

System)• Tonight’s topic of case

studies and problem-based learning

FUSION

QuickTime™ and aDV/DVCPRO - NTSC decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Energy Inside the Atom

• e=mc2 (audio file)• The Big Bang Theory• Fusion and the

creation of the elements

• How does this compare to Fission? (note: a neutron is electrically neutral)

Fusion reactors• Easy in theory• Very difficult

in reality• Require high

temperatures (150 million degrees) and pressures

• France in 30 years

http://www.efda.org/multimedia/downloads/animations/the_highest_temperatures.mov

Case Method / Project-Based Learning

A Personal Case Study

- a student-centred, problem-based, interdisciplinary approach to learning - has been adopted by universities around the world.

The McMaster Model

Case Learnin

g

student-

centred

problem-based

high interest narratives

interdisciplinary approach

issues require

‘sustained examination’

complex situations

(information, conflict, values)

A case is a story or narrative of a real life

situation that sets up a problem or unresolved

tension for the students to analyze

and resolve.

Go to Case Study…

C. Roland (Chris) Christensen

How to Create Cases Select the theme you want to teach.

Ask yourself if there is a current story on this topic. Collect: • newspaper articles, • storybooks from the library,• internet blogs, • online journal entries, • photos,• anything to make the story more real.

Create your story.

Watch Project Videos

Project-Based Learning

Philosophy Behind Case-Method/Project-Based

Learning• Students can see science in context.• Students learn better if there is an overarching theme

that they can observe, question and interact with.• Students are far more interested in real learning

environments than ones that are abstract, artificial or contrived.

• Students can construct their own knowledge more easily if it’s based on their life experience.

• Real projects present unstaged and unexpected situations that promote critical thinking.

• Teachers cannot provide experiences without limits the way projects do.

• Projects stimulate multiple intelligences.

Websites

Case Methodhttp://www.educ.sfu.ca/case/cases/gen_sci.htmlhttp://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/cases/teaching/novel.html

George Lucas Educational FoundationProject Based Learninghttp://www.edutopia.org/php/keyword.php?id=037

Citizen Sciencehttp://dev.stewardshipcanada.ca/communities/citizenScience/home/csnIndex.asp?lang=en