Exploring how physics students use a sandbox software to move between the physical and the formal

In this paper, we present a theoretical framework based on Hestenes's discussion of modeling in physics and diSessa's early theories on creativity-based digital learning environments.We use this framework to formulate new understandings of how a pair of students work with an open-ended physics sandbox software, Algodoo, alongside a physical laboratory setup.Algodoo is a digital environment that makes it possible for students to create simple, two-dimensional models of physical phenomena.We identify Algodoo's role as that of a semi-formalism, whereby the students made use of the software in their process of modeling as a means of moving between the physical, experimental context and the formal, mathematical representations associated with that context.We propose a hypothesis to be tested in future research and suggest further avenues for exploration in relation to the proposed theoretical framework.