Learning How to Make “Good Enough” Estimations

Abstract

The ability to estimate physical quantities is a useful skill that can help develop critical thinking and scientific literacy. This lesson provides an accessible way to teach students how to estimate physical quantities by focusing on three key aspects: making assumptions based on previous experiences, explicitly converting units, and communicating the solution clearly. Students are first taught how to perform each of these three steps through a problem-based interactive learning cycle led by the instructor before performing further estimates in groups during a minimally structured investigation. Because this lesson is lean on physics content, it can be used in a variety of classes and is ideal as an early-term laboratory activity. Students engage with the activity by investigating spaces, planning an approach to a solution, and ultimately presenting that solution to one another.