A Commitment to Innovative Research-Based Physics Education

University of Massachusetts – Amherst

An effort to implement innovative research-based physics courses throughout the curriculum from general education courses, physics for life sciences, introductory courses for majors, and upper division courses. Techniques with which we have expertise include:

  • Critical consideration of curricular topic choices.
  • Team-Based Learning.
  • Other active learning techniques at both the introductory and advanced levels.
  • Lab design incorporating experimental design and error analysis.
  • Application of technology in the classroom.

You can see more about each course under the courses tab at the top of the page.

PI: Brokk Toggerson

Developer of Introductory Physics for Life Sciences (IPLS) I and II, Professional Development through TA Training for Ph.D. Students, Advanced Quantum II, Introduction to Physics Pedagogy, and Introductory Lab for Majors.

The Team

Patrick Morgan – Expertise in Outreach and Demonstrations
Heath Hatch – Expertise in IPLS I/II and General Education
Chris Ertl
Chris Ertl – Expertise in Online Education and Course Design
David Nguyen – Peer Evaluation Implementation
Paul Bourgeois – Director of Undergraudate Labs, IPLS I/II
David Hamilton – Developer of Intro Physics for Engineering Students

Alumni

Samyukta Krishnamurthy (Ph.D. 2022; Now a Professor of Practice at University of Arizona) – Self-Efficacy in IPLS
Emily Hansen (B.S. 2020) – Inclusion in IPLS and OER Development
Jake Shechter
Jake Shechter (Ph.D. 2020) – Co-Developer of Ph.D. Professional Development through TA Training
Cooper Wagner (Ph.D. 2024) – Using Natural Language Processing to Analyze Qualitative Results
Chasya Church (B.S. 2017) – Characterization of Demographic Factors in IPLS