Learning Introductory Level Physics with Phys-TikToks

This paper discusses the advantages of integrating TikTok videos into introductory physics education, leveraging the popularity of this social media platform among teens and college students. TikTok’s concise, attention-grab- bing, and engaging video format is demonstrated to enhance information retention compared to conventional platforms like YouTube. Our experimentation involved introducing videos, known as “Phys-TikToks”, into an introductory-level physics course focused on the mechanics of the human body. We empowered students to create these informative TikToks, supported by a dedicated Google page, “Phys-TikTok-com”, housing crucial topics, chapter summaries, TikTok-friendly problems, and the corresponding videos. Sharing this resource across the class and other sections ignited collaborative physics discussions and significantly bolstered students’ knowledge. This approach not only injected enjoyment into learning physics but also proved invaluable in addressing educational disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ultimately, we aim to harness TikTok’s addictive allure to enrich students’ learning experiences, cultivate their enthusiasm for physics, and extend this innovative pedagogical strategy to diverse academic domains.