David Hestenes is the original developer of the Force Concept Inventory, which laid out the foundation or physics education research. He is also the creator of Modeling Instruction which has impacted, over three decades, thousands of schools and their teachers. http://modeling.asu.edu/.
Abstract: We review a Modeling Theory of Physics Instruction that has been developed and widely applied in the United States over the last two decades. The theory holds that scientific understanding of the physical world is grounded in constructing and using scientific models to describe, explain, predict and control physical phenomena. Insights from cognitive science are incorporated into a program of educational research to optimize the effectiveness of collaborative learning and research. Implications for the design of curriculum and instruction are discussed.
