Teaching Physics within Smart City Learning Environments: A Pedagogical Approach with Focus on Urban Energy Efficiency
Teaching Physics within Smart City Learning Environments: A Pedagogical Approach with Focus on Urban Energy Efficiency

Summary/Abstract: This research focused on the development of real-time smart city data into physics education, with exemplary implementation executed at Reynoldsburg Schools. Students participated in hands-on experiential activities using real data from smart urban systems such as energy usage and heat loss, HVAC systems efficiency and effectiveness, photovoltaic production, water usage and conservation, waste production and management, transportation emissions and environmental impacts. These hands-on activities included data analysis, energy-saving measures, simulations based on fundamental physics principles like power, heat transfer and conservation of energy. The simulations were directly connected to the current physics curriculum and carried out via the Simulink environment to facilitate conceptual comprehension and contextual applicability. Intended as flexible, modular instructional units, the tasks can be spread out across an academic term. Increases of 20.4% overall from pre- and post-instruction assessments showed that students were better able to identify smart city applications to different physics contexts. The study underscored major barriers to effective implementation, like inadequate IT infrastructure and lack of targeted teacher training. In all cases, the results indicate that when provided sufficient support, bringing smart city data into a physics classroom could meaningfully improve student engagement, conceptual understanding, and the perceived relevance of their physics education to real-world urban sustainability challenges.

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