Open Educational Resources
Document Type
Lecture or Presentation
Publication Date
Fall 10-3-2025
Abstract
Many students can memorize formulas but struggle to feel what a newton, joule, or volt means; they treat formulas as plug-and-chug templates rather than descriptions of relationships among physical quantities. This presentation introduces three types of learning activities: (1) text-free (“no-text”) problems, in which carefully designed visuals replace prose to convey relationships and constraints; (2) anti-problems, which begin with a mathematical expression and ask students to imagine a physical situation it could describe; and (3) lab games that turn routine measurement into purposeful play, emphasizing estimation, scaling, and unit sense. We provide ready-made, Brightspace-compatible assessments alongside low-tech implementation options. The approach works across formats—lectures, labs, and recitations—and aligns with mastery checked through short, frequent assessments. By centering comprehension and visual thinking, we help students connect mathematical form to physical meaning—before, during, and after calculations.
