Kostantinos Mitzithras | National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (original) (raw)

Papers by Kostantinos Mitzithras

The teaching of basic physics concepts and physical phenomena in early stages of primary educatio... more The teaching of basic physics concepts and physical phenomena in early stages of primary education is very limited. Mainly it is focused in the reference of natural physical phenomena, such as rain, earthquakes etc. but it does not relate with certain physical quantities and concepts. The use of interactive whiteboard in combination with free (or low cost) software, which can be supplied from the internet, can be a fun and creative way to motivate students and thus could help them in the deeper comprehension of a plethora of physical phenomena. In this paper we present a teaching plan that shows how certain activities can help students to comprehend better the motion of physical bodies by painting and playing which will naturally lead them to create a positive view of physics in general.

Physics Laboratories require the use of electricity in order to experiment in basic principles of... more Physics Laboratories require the use of electricity in order to experiment in basic principles of physics. For example, a heat source is required when experimenting on Heat Transfer and an electric source for basic DC/AC study, Ohm's Laws e.t.c. Many laboratories use batteries for all those experiments, with well-known effects of their consumption to the environment, This study is based on the idea of discovering a way to produce the electricity that is required for all these experiments with the use of Renewable Energy Sources. We herein present one of the devices of that prototype Laboratory.

The design of the course "Physics with Experiments" in7th grade aims to smooth the transition of ... more The design of the course "Physics with Experiments" in7th grade aims to smooth the transition of students from the descriptive approach of concepts and physical phenomena in primary school to the stricter and, above all quantitative approach as physical quantities and natural processes, respectively, in high school. To achieve this goal: a) it applies in the educational process the scientific/educational method by inquiry, which is also applied at the primary school and presupposes experimentation-with simple materials and means-and b) it obtains actual measurements, their processing and the chart formation and modeling. The educational process is based on worksheets, without memorization of information in which:1) students’ interest is triggered, 2) their pre-existing knowledge is withdrawn and hypotheses formulation
is encouraged, 3) the execution of experiments is required, 4) the formulation of conclusions and implementation is facilitated and 5) is attempted the generalization of the conclusions, their interpretation and their interdisciplinary study. The Workshop (lasting 2 hours) aims at the active involvement of teachers, students and school children and -in groups of five- in all methodological phases of the laboratory process concerning five topics with experiments. The thematics of the WORKSHOP are: 1. Calibration of improvised dynamometer, 2. Refraction of light, 3. Self-built electric motor 4. Self-built electric generator (a) and 5. Self-built electric generator (b).

Physics Laboratories require the use of electricity in order to experiment in basic principles of... more Physics Laboratories require the use of electricity in order to experiment in basic principles of physics. For example, a heat source is required when experimenting on Heat Transfer and an electric source for basic DC/AC study, Ohm's Laws e.t.c. Many laboratories use batteries for all those experiments, with well-known effects of their consumption to the environment, This study is based on the idea of discovering a way to produce the electricity that is required for all these experiments with the use of Renewable Energy Sources. We herein present one of the devices of that prototype Laboratory.

Books by Kostantinos Mitzithras

Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Hands-on Science, Rethymno-Crete, 25-31 July 2... more Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Hands-on Science, Rethymno-Crete, 25-31 July 2010.

The teaching of basic physics concepts and physical phenomena in early stages of primary educatio... more The teaching of basic physics concepts and physical phenomena in early stages of primary education is very limited. Mainly it is focused in the reference of natural physical phenomena, such as rain, earthquakes etc. but it does not relate with certain physical quantities and concepts. The use of interactive whiteboard in combination with free (or low cost) software, which can be supplied from the internet, can be a fun and creative way to motivate students and thus could help them in the deeper comprehension of a plethora of physical phenomena. In this paper we present a teaching plan that shows how certain activities can help students to comprehend better the motion of physical bodies by painting and playing which will naturally lead them to create a positive view of physics in general.

Physics Laboratories require the use of electricity in order to experiment in basic principles of... more Physics Laboratories require the use of electricity in order to experiment in basic principles of physics. For example, a heat source is required when experimenting on Heat Transfer and an electric source for basic DC/AC study, Ohm's Laws e.t.c. Many laboratories use batteries for all those experiments, with well-known effects of their consumption to the environment, This study is based on the idea of discovering a way to produce the electricity that is required for all these experiments with the use of Renewable Energy Sources. We herein present one of the devices of that prototype Laboratory.

The design of the course "Physics with Experiments" in7th grade aims to smooth the transition of ... more The design of the course "Physics with Experiments" in7th grade aims to smooth the transition of students from the descriptive approach of concepts and physical phenomena in primary school to the stricter and, above all quantitative approach as physical quantities and natural processes, respectively, in high school. To achieve this goal: a) it applies in the educational process the scientific/educational method by inquiry, which is also applied at the primary school and presupposes experimentation-with simple materials and means-and b) it obtains actual measurements, their processing and the chart formation and modeling. The educational process is based on worksheets, without memorization of information in which:1) students’ interest is triggered, 2) their pre-existing knowledge is withdrawn and hypotheses formulation
is encouraged, 3) the execution of experiments is required, 4) the formulation of conclusions and implementation is facilitated and 5) is attempted the generalization of the conclusions, their interpretation and their interdisciplinary study. The Workshop (lasting 2 hours) aims at the active involvement of teachers, students and school children and -in groups of five- in all methodological phases of the laboratory process concerning five topics with experiments. The thematics of the WORKSHOP are: 1. Calibration of improvised dynamometer, 2. Refraction of light, 3. Self-built electric motor 4. Self-built electric generator (a) and 5. Self-built electric generator (b).

Physics Laboratories require the use of electricity in order to experiment in basic principles of... more Physics Laboratories require the use of electricity in order to experiment in basic principles of physics. For example, a heat source is required when experimenting on Heat Transfer and an electric source for basic DC/AC study, Ohm's Laws e.t.c. Many laboratories use batteries for all those experiments, with well-known effects of their consumption to the environment, This study is based on the idea of discovering a way to produce the electricity that is required for all these experiments with the use of Renewable Energy Sources. We herein present one of the devices of that prototype Laboratory.

Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Hands-on Science, Rethymno-Crete, 25-31 July 2... more Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Hands-on Science, Rethymno-Crete, 25-31 July 2010.