Reference Frames 360 (Bezugssysteme 360) - Using 360° Videos to Learn About the Translation of Stationary Reference Frames in High School Physics
Investigators @RILL: Sarah Hofer
Collaborators: Volker Eisenlauer (University of the Bundeswehr Munich), Eliane Merki, Andreas Lichtenberger, Andreas Vaterlaus (ETH Zurich)
Duration: February 2021 (start)
Main Goals: In physics, kinematics, as a subfield of mechanics, describes the motion of objects, enabling the assignment of a specific location to a moving object at any given time. For students, it is often challenging to grasp how the concepts of motion from their physics lessons relate to their everyday experiences. This project aims to assist students in gaining a better understanding of kinematic concepts.
Key Methods: We created an immersive and interactive learning environment for teaching and learning about frames of reference. Students select the reference system through a menu and then experience the corresponding motion based on a 360° video. A corresponding dynamically changing position time diagram is provided in real time. In randomized controlled intervention studies, we examine whether and how the 360° video-environment enhances students’ learning and engagement. In this project, we also developed and validated a new reference frame concept test (RFCT) to investigate the learning progress.
Practical Relevance: This project contributes to our understanding of the potential and limits of 360° videos to support conceptual knowledge development and engagement in the classroom and explores how this technology can be implemented in a way that supports learning for individual learners.