#model-based

Was pleasantly surprised at the number of academic articles i turned up by simply searching for "interactive teaching physics". I just read through the article "Problem solving - Physics modeling-based interactive engagement" by Funda Ornek. It seemed applicable because in the abstract the author mentioned using a modeling-based approach to teaching physics at a large state university in the US. And upon further research, model-based teaching "seeks to help students create and test appropriate conceptual frameworks which they can reform and add detail as they gain experience and knowledge" according to David Hestenes of Arizona State University, and this is similar to the methodology i wish to employ for my physics-teaching project.

This paper introduced me to some of the terminology of the field of physics instruction and model-based learning that could be useful in guiding my own project. For example:

The right types of questions to use in my own simulations would be their so-called real problems, which require more than one step and the combination of information from different steps in order to be solved. 

The tool would aim to move students toward an expert's style of physics problem-solving, where a qualitative physical explanation is used to guide oneself toward the correct solution, instead of just the application of mathematical formulas.

The fundamental principles in physics models are the linear momentum principle, the energy principle, and the angular momentum principle.

Think-aloud problem solving was used by the researchers to ascertain the level of expertness subjects demonstrated in solving their assigned problem.