Games

MAGIC PEN Names: Aden Stinebrickner-Kauffman What does this tool do? This tool allows students to experiment with Newtonian Physics. It provides a rudimentary overview of the qualitative interactions of shapes, gravity, rotation and friction. **Who is this tool for?** Students often suffer from an inability to translate a “book” understanding (equations etc) into real world consequences. Magic Pen focuses entirely on qualitative relationships. **What will be created? Nothing really** Are the steps clearly laid out? Yes, the tutorial is fairly clear on how the game is played, however, the game does not explain physics concepts so students may become lost if they are not well versed. **What should I know before I begin?** How familiar students are with basic physics concepts such as gravity and rotation. **What do I need to gather before I begin?** Nothing. **What will my students accomplish using this tool?** Students will learn how shapes interact. **How will this Online tool help you? Your students?** This online tool helps students by giving them a “hands” on experience with the forces in physics, and it helps me by giving them that without the mess. **Which curriculum links or SOL competencies could this Online Tool encourage?** P.2.7 Explain how a force acting on an object perpendicular to the direction of its motion causes it to change direction but not speed. **What are the benefits (added value) to using this Online Tool?** The students can learn the rules of physics by playing a game. **What challenges will you face as you work with this Online Tool?** It could be difficult preventing students from becoming frustrated with the game. ****What questions do you have as you investigate this Online Tool?** ****** How accurate is it? It feels slightly off.