New Perspectives in Science Education

This abstract outlines a theaching proposal devised for a fifth-grade scientific high school class in Italy (13th grade) focusing on the behavior of an RC circuit. By using a constructive approach, it enables students to explore and analyze the properties of an RC circuit, focusing on the behavior of capacitors and resistors in series, and to understand the transient response of the circuit. Through exploratory teaching methodologies involving both practical experimentation and theoretical discourse, students delve into the process of charging and discharging of a capacitor, the concept of time constant (τ) and its significance in RC circuits, and - through data analysis techniques - to visualize and interpret voltage-time graphs. The tools facilitating this interdisciplinary proposal, spanning physics and mathematics with potential extensions into other scientific domains, include virtual simulators, low-cost circuit construction materials, free data analysis software, and digital sensors. All activities are highly adaptable, allowing for selective experiment execution and material utilization. Evaluation of the pathway employs a process-oriented approach, combining observational and summative assessments within the final report.