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Collection of Reviewed Teaching Resources

Refraction of Light Through a Glass Slab using Laser Beam

Subject taught
- Physics

Link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=el8AUeZaljw

Type of Product
- Online lab
- Videos

Language Skills Developed
- Interaction
- Listening
- Speaking

Transferable/Scientific Skills Developed
To observe , to understand, to acknowledge the laws of physics that govern the phenomena and to reproduce them with simple experiments.

Description
• The general aims are to develop the observation skills and the ability to make connections and suppositions. Also to work in a team enhancing their attitude and those of the others and learning how to manage conflict . To contribute common learning to realise group activities. To work in an independent and responsible way: to be able to fit in an active and conscious way in the social life and in this context to assert their rights and needs while recognising those of the others, the common opportunities, the limits, the rules, the responsibility.
• The linguistic aims are to teach students a correct scientific language. They will have to read or to watch and to understand a scientific article or video. They will have to use a correct language when they have to explain a scientific topic.
• The specific aims are to stimulate the ability of the students to give scientific explanations about the phenomena observed and to use their curiosity in order to introduce the two laws of physics: refraction and reflection of light. The students will be motivated to reproduce the simple experiments that they have observed in the video .
• The target group age is 16 /18
• The level of competence in English is B1/B2.
• The time required to use the resource with the students is about two hours: one hour is needed to look at the on line lab, it can be stopped when necessary : when the students ask questions or when the teacher wants to focus on a particular topic . Another hour is needed to reproduce these experiments and the other ones that the students have found on line at home .
• While watching the on line lab the teacher must ask why these facts happen and must stimulate the students to give an explanation about these strange phenomena. Afterward the teacher divides the students in groups and he asks them to look for the necessary items needed to reproduce the experiments in the video. He can also ask the students to look for on line similar experiments. Every group must look for a specific topic (refraction of the light in two medium or total refraction or other topics ) and they must reproduce these experiments in class.
• Normally the students do not have any problem to make these experiments, in fact they are very amused by the activity.

Comments
• Strength: Working and interacting in a group, the weaker students can be helped by other students. The reproduction of a phenomena is a good way to understand the phenomena themselves and to look for the laws that govern them. To look for resources on line accustoms the students to select the information in a critical way and to assess its reliability and credibility. • Weakness: Working in group it can happen that the more talented students outshine the weaker students. • Scientific reliability: good, the experiments are well done, but there aren’t any explanations: this is the job of the teacher. • Pedagogical value: collaborative learning, self–directed learning, homework and group work are used in this lesson.

Related Video Lessons

Reflection and Refraction