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- Edward Redish (he/him)
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238 Contributions
0 Reports
Member of
Living Physics Portal Team
NEXUS Physics
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Edward Redish ( he/him )
Pedagogical Methods Used
Peer Instruction / Think-Pair-Share, Collaborative problem-solving, Conceptually-oriented activities, Context-rich problems, Ranking tasks, Mathematically-focused activities, Experimentally-focused activities, Tutorials
Life Sciences Focus
Write a few short phrases describing the areas of life science that you focus on in your teaching.
640 characters remaining.Focus on mathematical modeling. Viscous and drag forces, Reynolds’ number; resistive fluid flow; Random motion, Fick’s laws, and the implication of thermal motion for cellular biology; Understanding binding energy and the source of energy in chemical reactions; Entropy, micro and macro-states, and free energy; Energy exchange among mechanical, thermal, and chemical energies; physics in cellular and biochemistry; Interactions of photons with matter and discrete molecular energy levels.
Education Research and Pedagogy Expertise
Write a few short phrases describing areas of education research or pedagogy where you have particular expertise that you could share with other users.
640 characters remaining.Cognitive modeling of student thinking, issues in interdisciplinary instruction. Epistemological resources and epistemic games. Use of mathematics in science.
Describe the courses that you teach for life sciences students
Write a short paragraph.
640 characters remaining.Fundamentals of Physics for the Life Sciences I and II (NEXUS Physics): A two semester class for bio and life science majors. Intended to fit in the middle of their program and to interact with it. Biology, chemistry, and calculus, and it is designed to help with physical issues in upper division biology classes. There is an emphasis on molecular and cellular issues rather than on physiology.
What is your approach to teaching physics for life science students?
Write a short paragraph.
640 characters remaining.I focus my IPLS instruction on issues that complement and support the instruction that my students receive in their biology and chemistry classes. This has implications on many levels includes broad issues such as learning how to think with and interpret symbolic equations, to understand thinking about physical mechanism, and to understand science as modeling, and specific issues, such as helping students understand diffusion, fluid flow, chemical binding, and entropy. I teach physics to demonstrate that taking a physics perspective often can provide deeper understanding of what they have learning in biology and chemistry classes.
CONTRIBUTIONS
Using math in physics - Telling the story
Instructor supplement, Restricted access, Student reading, Homework, In-class activity, Exam problema set of problems to help students learn to think about mechanism and create a coherent story as part of solving a complex problem
Molecular and Cellular Biology, Cardiovascular System, Neurophysiology
Classical Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics, Oscillations & Waves, Thermo & Stat Mech, Optics, Electric Fields and Potential, DC Circuits
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Telling the story - Introduction
Instructor supplement, Restricted accessteacher's introduction to the module on learning to tell the story as a part of complex problem solving
None
None
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Telling the story - Student readings
Student reading3 short readings for students on the value of telling the story and understanding the mechanism of what's happening in a physics problem
None
None
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Telling the story - Problems with solution
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted access, In-class activitya set of 242 problems to help students learn to think about mechanism and create a coherent story as part of solving a complex problem
Molecular and Cellular Biology, Cardiovascular System, Neurophysiology
Classical Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics, Oscillations & Waves, Thermo & Stat Mech, Electricity & Magnetism, Optics
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Telling the story - Modeling with math problems
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted accessa set of 5 problems to help students learn to think about mechanism and create a coherent story as part of solving a complex problem
Molecular and Cellular Biology, Cardiovascular System
Motion in One Dimension
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Telling the story - Kinematics problems
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted access, In-class activitya set of 15 problems on kinematics to help students learn to create a coherent story as part of solving a complex problem
Animal Biomechanics
Motion in One Dimension
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Telling the story - Newton's laws problems
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted accessa set of 16 problems to help students learn to think about mechanism and create a coherent story in the context of Newton's laws
Molecular and Cellular Biology, Human and Animal Physiology
Motion in One Dimension, Motion in Two Dimensions, Newton's First Law, Newton's Second Law, Newton's Third Law, Applications of Newton's Laws, Gravity
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Telling the story - Modeling forces problems
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted accessa set of 11 problems to help students learn to create a coherent story in the context of Newton's laws and specific forces
Molecular and Cellular Biology, Locomotion and Gait, Human and Animal Physiology
Motion in One Dimension, Motion in Two Dimensions, Newton's First Law, Newton's Second Law, Newton's Third Law, Applications of Newton's Laws, Gravity
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Telling the story - Coherent vs random motion problems
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted accessa set of 20 problems to help students learn to think about mechanism and create a coherent story in the context of linear and random motion
Molecular and Cellular Biology, Cellular Interactions
Motion in One Dimension, Motion in Two Dimensions, Newton's First Law, Newton's Second Law, Newton's Third Law, Applications of Newton's Laws, Gravity, Work and Energy, Linear Momentum, Kinetic and Diffusive Processes
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Telling the story - Fluids problems
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted access, In-class activitya set of 10 problems to help students learn to create a coherent story as part of solving a complex problem in the context of fluid flow
Molecular and Cellular Biology, Cardiovascular System
Applications of Newton's Laws, Surface Tension, Statics of Fluids, Dynamics of Fluids
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Telling the story - Heat and temperature problems
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted accessa set of 5 problems to help students learn to create a coherent story as part of solving a complex problem about heat and temperature
Matter/energy Transfer & Transforms
Thermo & Stat Mech, Work and Energy
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Telling the story - Mechanical energy problems
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted access, In-class activitya set of 21 problems to help students learn create a coherent story as part of solving a complex problem about mechanical energy
None
Motion in One Dimension, Motion in Two Dimensions, Newton's First Law, Newton's Second Law, Newton's Third Law, Applications of Newton's Laws, Gravity, Work and Energy
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Telling the story - Chemical energy problems
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted accessa set of 14 problems to help students learn to think about mechanism and create a coherent story in the context of chemical energetics
Molecular and Cellular Biology
Motion in One Dimension, Work and Energy, Conservation of Energy
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Telling the story - Thermodynamics and statistical mechanics problems
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted access, In-class activitya set of 19 problems to help students learn to create a coherent story in problem solving in the context of thermo and stat mech
Molecular and Cellular Biology, Evolution
Motion in One Dimension, Motion in Two Dimensions, Work and Energy, First Law, Kinetic and Diffusive Processes
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Telling the story - Electric field, potential, and current problems
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted access, In-class activitya set of 29 problems to help students learn to create a coherent story as part of problem solving on the topic of electricity
Molecular and Cellular Biology, Neurophysiology
Capacitance, Resistance, DC Circuits
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Telling the story - Oscillations problems
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted access, In-class activitya set of 12 problems to help students learn to create a coherent story as part of solving a complex problem involving oscillations
None
Motion in One Dimension, Motion in Two Dimensions, Newton's First Law, Newton's Second Law, Newton's Third Law, Applications of Newton's Laws, Gravity, Work and Energy, Oscillations
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Telling the story - Waves problems
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted accessa set of 27 problems to help students learn to create a coherent story as part of solving a complex problem about wave motion
Neurophysiology, Pressure & Fluid Diagnostics
Classical Mechanics, Transverse Pulses and Waves, Standing Waves, Compound Waves, Wave Properties of Sound
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Telling the story - Light problems
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted access, In-class activitya set of 39 problems to help students learn to create a coherent story as part of solving a problem using the various models of light
Optical Imaging, Molecular Imaging
Geometrical Optics, Diffraction, Photons
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Telling the story - Light problems - Ray model
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted accessa set of 24 problems to help students learn to create a coherent story as part of solving a problem using the ray model of light
Optical Imaging
Geometrical Optics
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Telling the story - Light problems - Wave model
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted accessa set of 7 problems to help students learn to create a coherent story about interference and the wave model of light
Molecular Imaging
Diffraction
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Telling the story - Light problems - Photon model
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted access, In-class activitya set of 8 problems to help students learn to create a coherent story as part of solving a problem using the photon model of light
Light Therapy, Radiographic Imaging
Photons
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Telling the story - Quiz and exam problems
Exam problem, Instructor supplement, Restricted accessa set of 48 exam problems that require students to think about mechanism and create a coherent story as part of solving a complex problem
Molecular and Cellular Biology, Cardiovascular System, Neurophysiology, Respiratory System, Cellular Interactions
Classical Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics, Oscillations & Waves, Thermo & Stat Mech, Optics, Electric Fields and Potential, DC Circuits
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Using math in physics - Anchor equations
Instructor supplement, Restricted access, Student reading, Homework, In-class activityA few fundamental equations can help organize large blocks of conceptual knowledge and serve as starting points for problem solving
Medical Applications, Human and Animal Physiology, Biomechanics
Classical Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics, Oscillations & Waves, Thermo & Stat Mech, Electricity & Magnetism, Optics
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Anchor equations - introduction and overview
Instructor supplement, Restricted accessAn overview of what's in this unit on organizing around basic equations and a short paper for instructors discussing anchor equations.
Medical Applications, Human and Animal Physiology, Biomechanics
Classical Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics, Oscillations & Waves, Thermo & Stat Mech, Electricity & Magnetism, Optics
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Anchor equations - student readings
Student readingA series of readings for students called "Reading the content in... " showing how fundamental equations code for conceptual knowledge.
None
Classical Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics, Oscillations & Waves, Thermo & Stat Mech, Electricity & Magnetism
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Anchor equations - problems
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted access, In-class activityA collection of 87 problems throughout the class that are best done by beginning with fundamental ("anchor") equations or principles.
Medical Applications, Human and Animal Physiology, Biomechanics
Classical Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics, Oscillations & Waves, Thermo & Stat Mech, Electricity & Magnetism, Optics
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Anchor equations problems - General
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted access3 essay questions that ask students to think about the role of fundamental ("anchor") equations or principles.
None
None
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Anchor equations problems - Kinematics
Homework, Restricted access, Instructor supplement, In-class activity9 problems on kinematics that are best done by beginning with fundamental ("anchor") equations or principles.
Biomechanics
Classical Mechanics
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Anchor equations problems - Newton's laws
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted access6 problems on the use of Newton's laws that are best done by beginning with fundamental ("anchor") equations or principles.
Biomechanics
Classical Mechanics
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Anchor equations problems - Models of force
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted access5 problems on forces that are best done by beginning with fundamental ("anchor") equations or principles.
Human and Animal Physiology, Biomechanics
Classical Mechanics, Electricity & Magnetism
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Anchor equations problems - Coherent vs random motion
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted access4 problems on diffusion and random motion that are best done by beginning with fundamental ("anchor") equations or principles.
None
Kinetic and Diffusive Processes
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Anchor equations problems - Solids
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted access3 problems on the properties of solids that are best done by beginning with fundamental ("anchor") equations or principles.
Medical Applications
Classical Mechanics
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Anchor equations problems - Fluids
Homework, Restricted access, Instructor supplement6 problems on fluid flow that are best done by beginning with fundamental ("anchor") equations or principles.
Medical Applications, Human and Animal Physiology
Fluid Mechanics
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Anchor equations problems - Mechanical energy
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted access5 problems on mechanical energy that are best done by beginning with fundamental ("anchor") equations or principles.
None
Work and Energy
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Anchor equations problems - Chemical energy
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted access1 problem on chemical reactions that is best done by beginning with fundamental ("anchor") equations or principles.
None
Classical Mechanics
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Anchor equations problems - Thermodynamics and statistical physics
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted access, In-class activity11 problems on thermodynamics and statistical physics that are best done by beginning with fundamental ("anchor") equations or principles.
Biochemistry
Second and Third Law, Probability
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Anchor equations problems - Electricity
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted access14 problems on electric currents and fields in ionic fluids best done by beginning with fundamental
Neurophysiology, Cellular Structure
Capacitance, Resistance, DC Circuits
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Anchor equations problems - Oscillations
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted access5 problems on oscillations that are best done by beginning with fundamental ("anchor") equations or
None
Oscillations
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Anchor equations problems - Waves
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted access8 problems on propagating waves that are best done by beginning with fundamental ("anchor") equations or principles.
None
Oscillations & Waves, Transverse Pulses and Waves
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Anchor equations problems - Light
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted access7 problems on light that are best done by beginning with fundamental ("anchor") equations or principles.
Natural Selection and Adaptation, Molecular Imaging
Geometrical Optics, Interference, Photons
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Using math in physics - Functional dependence
Instructor supplement, Restricted access, Homework, Student reading, In-class activity, Lecture materials, Exam problemAn introduction to functional dependence with readings, problems, and examples throughout the curriculum
Evolution, Physical Mechanisms, Intracellular Components, Cellular Structure, Surface Area/volume, Synapse Structure/Function, Signaling Molecules, Medical Applications, Cardiovascular System
Electrostatics, Color, Oscillations, Force of Surface Tension, Capillary Action, Flow Rate, Hagen-Poiseuille Equation, Viscosity, Transverse Pulses and Waves, Wave Packets, Diffusion, Coulomb's Law, Electric Field, Thin Lens, Equation of Continuity
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Functional dependence - Introduction
Instructor supplement, HomeworkAn instructor's guide to the Functional Dependence unit including a description of the contents, a short paper, and a list of the problems.
None
None
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Functional dependence - Student readings
Student readingReading for students providing an introduction to functional dependence and scaling in the open source NEXUS/Physics wiki textbook.
None
None
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Functional dependence - Classroom activities
In-class activity, Lecture materialsAn extended groupwork activity that helps students analyze and see functional dependence in equations important to biology
Physical Mechanisms, Cardiovascular System
Flow Rate, Hagen-Poiseuille Equation, Viscosity, Diffusion
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Functional dependence - Problems with solutions
Homework, Restricted access, Instructor supplementA collection of 78 problems throughout the class that are best done by focusing on functional dependence
Evolution, Physical Mechanisms, Intracellular Components, Cellular Structure, Surface Area/volume, Synapse Structure/Function, Signaling Molecules, Medical Applications, Cardiovascular System
Electrostatics, Color, Oscillations, Force of Surface Tension, Capillary Action, Flow Rate, Hagen-Poiseuille Equation, Viscosity, Transverse Pulses and Waves, Wave Packets, Diffusion, Coulomb's Law, Electric Field, Thin Lens, Equation of Continuity
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Functional dependence problems - General
Homework, Restricted accessA collection of 16 problems that focusing on functional dependence using geometry and exponentials, often in a biological context.
Physical Mechanisms, Intracellular Components, Cellular Structure, Surface Area/volume, Medical Applications
None
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Functional dependence problems - Models of force
Homework, Restricted access, Instructor supplementA collection of 16 problems that focusing on functional dependence in the study of forces, especially electrical.
Evolution, Physical Mechanisms
Electrostatics, Force of Surface Tension, Viscosity, Coulomb's Law, Equation of Continuity
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Functional dependence problems - Coherent vs random motion
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted accessA collection of 8 problems on diffusion that are best done by focusing on functional dependence
Intracellular Components, Cellular Structure, Surface Area/volume, Synapse Structure/Function, Signaling Molecules
Diffusion
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Functional dependence problems - Solids
Homework, Restricted accessThree problems on the topic of the springiness of solids that are best done by focusing on functional dependence
None
Stresses
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Functional dependence problems - Fluids
Homework, Restricted access, Instructor supplementA collection of 13 problems concerning fluids that focus on functional dependence, many with biological or medical contexts.
Physical Mechanisms, Intracellular Components, Cellular Structure, Surface Area/volume, Medical Applications, Cardiovascular System
Force of Surface Tension, Capillary Action, Flow Rate, Hagen-Poiseuille Equation, Viscosity, Equation of Continuity
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Functional dependence problems - Heat and temperature
Homework, Restricted accessOne problem on heat flow that is best done by focusing on functional dependence
Physical Mechanisms
None
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Functional dependence problems - Mechanical energy
Homework, Restricted access, Instructor supplementTwo problems on mechanical energy that are best done by focusing on functional dependence
None
Linear Momentum, Electrostatics, Conservation of Energy, Coulomb's Law
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Functional dependence problems - Chemical energy
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted accessOne problem one the structure of the interatomic potential that is best done by focusing on functional dependence
None
Atomic Physics
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Functional dependence problems - Thermodynamics and statistical physics
Homework, Restricted access, Instructor supplementThree problems on statistical physics in biological and chemical contexts that are best done by focusing on functional dependence
Cellular Structure
Diffusion
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Functional dependence problems - Electricity
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted accessA collection of 11 problems on electric fields and potentials that are best done by focusing on functional dependence
None
Electrostatics, Coulomb's Law, Electric Field
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Functional dependence problems - Oscillations
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted accessTwo problems on the topic of oscillations that are best done by focusing on functional dependence
None
Oscillations
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Functional dependence problems - Waves
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted accessA collection of 5 problems on the topic of wave motion that are best done by focusing on functional dependence
None
Transverse Pulses and Waves, Wave Packets
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Functional dependence problems - Light
Homework, Instructor supplement, Restricted accessA set of 5 problems concerning light that are best done by focusing on functional dependence
None
Color, Thin Lens
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
Functional dependence - Quiz & exam problems
Exam problem, Restricted accessA collection of 10 problems appropriate for a quiz or exam that are best done by focusing on functional dependence. Solutions not provided.
Physical Mechanisms, Surface Area/volume, Medical Applications
Diffusion
Edward Redish
NEXUS Physics
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