Forming Computational Thinking and Computer Modeling Project Activities in the Physics Course of the Technical University

Alexander V Baranov,A.A Aleksandrov,Y.B Tsvetkov,Y.I Dimitrienko,B.V Padalkin

doi:10.1051/itmconf/20203503002

Abstract

The article discusses contextual technology of teaching and learning physics of IT students at the Technical University. The main goal of this research is development and analysis contextual technology to maintain and increase IT students’ interest in physics with parallel formation of computational thinking and competencies in computer science applications. This technology takes place in several contexts: the scientific method and modeling of physical processes, computational thinking and professional competence. The all contexts are present in four stages of the training cycle: lectures, seminars, lab works, and computer modeling of physical processes. As an example we demonstrate using the contextual technology for the physics course topic “Dynamics of a rigid body rotational motion” in all four stages of the training cycle. The example of student’s team development of the virtual lab work “Precession and nutation of a gyroscope” is given. According to the Novosibirsk State Technical University professors and students, the author’s technology has demonstrated its effectiveness in the formation of professional thinking and competencies of the IT students in teaching physics at the Technical University.

Highlights

The development of students' professional thinking and core competencies are the most important tasks and outcomes of higher education.For graduates of technical universities, the necessary components of thinking and competencies are largely determined by progress in science, technique and technology
The significant changes have occurred in the structure of the world higher education since it was beginning the era of Information Technologies (IT)
In addition to traditional engineering specialties, new IT specializations appeared at the technical universities: computer science, computer engineering, and information technology

Summary

Introduction

The development of students' professional thinking and core competencies are the most important tasks and outcomes of higher education. For graduates of technical universities, the necessary components of thinking and competencies are largely determined by progress in science, technique and technology. In addition to traditional engineering specialties, new IT specializations appeared at the technical universities: computer science, computer engineering, and information technology. Todays the Information Society transition to the stage of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Schwab, 2017) opens up new opportunities and poses new problems in teaching IT students.

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