We propose to develop curriculum materials for both students and teachers aimed at helping students integrate concepts into problem solving in the domain of classical mechanics. The materials will supplement traditional instruction by providing homework and in-class exercises that would allow students to actively engage in problem solving activities that highlight concept-based problem solving, and by providing teachers with instructional strategies to reinforce the approach. The materials will be designed in collaboration with high school physics teachers and will be based on a rich body of cognitive research. The proposed work is an attempt to complement students' proclivity to rely almost exclusively on formulaic approaches to problem solving by encouraging conceptual approaches.
