Interactive Projects in Physics Classes for Non-Major Students

Physics appears to be an abstract and difficult subject to students; especially to the students who are not majoring in Physics. To address their concerns, I have developed two original activities to connect physics to the world around them and to help students develop a deeper understanding of the subject matter. In the first project, ``Photo-Book of Concepts'', students are asked to capture physics principles in pictures. This project encourages students to be more observant and further allow them to freely express their interpretation of the subject and reflect on their learning. In another activity called ``Three-Column'', students develop an appreciation of how important physics class is in their everyday lives. Students can use this method to refocus on a problem or topic they are struggling with. Additionally, with these activities I intended to demonstrate why it is important to practice problem solving and analytical thinking skills inside and outside the classroom. Both of these projects have been embedded in other classes such as environmental chemistry, climate change, and also in community projects such as Earth Week. In this presentation, benefits and overall learning outcomes of these activities will be discussed.