Well a new semester has begun at UMass-Amherst, and the group has lots of interesting new projects!
- Heath Hatch and Chris Ertl, are further developing their online versions of the P132 and P131 labs to expand the list of labs that students can do from home. This is an important development for those students who, due to other obligations, may have trouble getting to campus for an in-person lab. Being able to offer these courses online is a great step towards increasing the accessibility of physics for non-traditional students.
- Hatch and Ertl are also exploring incorporating laboratory exercises into the preparation activities in P131 using the IOLab devices. Adding lab to the prep could be a great way to improve students’ knowledge and experience before discussing the material in class.
- The most recent issue of PhysicsToday talked about the ineffectiveness of many introductory physics labs, and how focusing on data analysis skills would be a good improvement. Here at UMass, we are already working on such an effort! Paul Bourgeois, David Nguyen, and Chris Ertl are working to develop new P132 that, instead of trying to help teach physics concepts, are focused on developing data analysis skills using the physics concepts discussed in the lecture portion of the course as the context.
- Speaking of the P132 lecture, I am experimenting with trying to teach the P132 lecture (2 sections of 250 students each!) in a TBL model. In addition to the number of students, this project also faces the challenge of the course being located in a standard lecture hall. Look for future updates in this space on those challenges!
- I am also teaching the P390T course again for its last run as an experimental course. Lots of changes in this project too! Look for future updates.
- Finally, we are on two grants currently in the process of submission. One is focused on developing a set of 3-D printed models for improving accessibility in line with the principles of UDL. The other is a MutalMentoring grant for the Introductory Life-Sciences Cabal to, among other things, bring in experts who have already done some work at their home institutions.
In short, lots of exciting things as always!