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Home Interactives 1D Kinematics Vector Walk Notes

Vector Walk Notes

Notes:

The Vector Walk Interactive is an adjustable-size file that displays best on tablets such as the iPad, on Chromebooks, and on laptops and desktops. The size of the Interactive can be scaled to fit the device that it is displayed on. The compatibility with iPads, other tablets, and Chromebooks make it a perfect tool for use in a 1:1 classroom. This Interactive does not display well on all smart phones and we do not recommend using it on smart phones.

Teaching Ideas and Suggestions:

This Interactive is intended for use near the beginning to middle stages of a learning cycle on position, velocity, and acceleration. It provides an invaluable formative assessment of student understanding of the distinction between distance and displacement. The intention was that after labwork, instruction, and some examples on the topic of distance and displacement, a classroom could navigate to the Vector Walk Interactive and use the Interactive as an assessment/learning tool. The availability of the stars on the main menu allows a teacher to quickly check-off progress on a per-student basis (if desired).

The Interactive consists of 8 different levels. Levels 1 and 2 involve two-stage motions. Levels 3 through 6 involve three-stage motions. Levels 7 and 8 involve four-stage motions. The starting, turning, and ending coordinates are randomly selected such that it is unlikely that two side-by-side students would have identical answers. When a student checks their answers using the Check Answers button, they are notified of the correctness of their response. If they are incorrect, the student is told what the correct answers are and given an opportunity to correct their answers. When a student's answers are correct, they receive a Dataway explosion and are taken back to the Main Menu to select a new Level. A star appears next to the Level on the Main Menu screen. That level cannot be re-done (unless a Guest user re-loads the page).

Our Vector Walk simulation is now equipped with Task Tracker functionality. Teachers with Task Tracker accounts for The Physics Interactives section can track their student's progress on Vector Walk. Learn more.

Related Resources:

There are numerous resources at The Physics Classroom website that serve as very complementary supports for the Vector Walk Interactive. These include:
  • Minds On Physics Internet Modules:
    The Minds On Physics Internet Modules include a collection of interactive questioning modules that help learners assess their understanding of physics concepts and solidify those understandings by answering questions that require higher-order thinking. Assignments KC1 and KC2 of the Kinematic Concepts module provide great complements to this Interactive. They are best used in the middle to later stages of the learning cycle. Visit the Minds On Physics Internet Modules.

     
  • Curriculum/Practice: Several Concept Development worksheets at the Curriculum Corner will be very useful in assisting students in cultivating their understanding, most notably ...

    Describing Motion Verbally with Distance and Displacement

    Visit the Curriculum Corner.
     
Additional resources and ideas for incorporating Vector Walk into an instructional unit on Kinematics can be found at the Teacher Toolkits section of The Physics Classroom website. Visit Teacher Toolkits.

Visit: Vector Walk Interactive