Improving the Gateway Courses in Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics

在过去的二十年里，加州大学伯克利分校一直积极致力于改善科学和数学方面的本科教育。作为这些努力的一部分，专业发展计划创建了数学“密集讨论部分”（IDS）模型。这些ids强调学生在高水平上积极学习课程材料，以及合作努力和良好的沟通技巧，已被证明在通过微积分入门课程提高某些代表性不足的群体方面非常成功。IDS模式最近在物理和化学领域也被采用，以帮助代表性不足的学生，并取得了同样的成功。一项为期两年的试点计划建议开始将这些ids扩展到低年级物理，化学和数学的所有学生，同时改善这些学科之间的跨学科交流。这些变化将需要创建新的课程材料和改进研究生讲师的培训。再加上伯克利其他正在进行的课程改革，这些改进有望大大提高学生在这些门户课程中的成绩，提高学生在高年级课程中的表现和保留率，并培养出与雇主在科学、工程、技术和其他学科方面的需求相匹配的毕业生。这是一所大型研究型大学首次尝试将低学部的学术改革制度化。这些结果将得到彻底评价和广泛传播。

Over the past two decades the University of California at Berkeley has been actively engaged in improving undergraduate education in science and mathematics. As a part of these efforts, the Professional Development Program has created the `Intensive Discussion Section` (IDS) model for mathematics. These IDSs, which emphasize active student learning of course material at a high level, as well as collaborative efforts and good communication skills, have proven highly successful in advancing certain underrepresented groups through introductory calculus courses. The IDS model has recently been adopted in physics and chemistry for underrepresented students as well, with the same success. A two-year pilot program is proposed to begin expanding these IDSs for all students in lower division physics, chemistry, and mathematics, and at the same time to improve cross- disciplinary exchange among these subjects. These changes will require creation of new course materials and improved graduate student instructor training. Coupled with other ongoing curriculum reform at Berkeley, these improvements are expected to greatly improve student achievement in these gateway courses, to improve student performance and retention in upper division coursework, and to produce graduates well matched to the needs of employers in science, engineering, technology, and other disciplines. This proposal represents the first attempt to institutionalize academic reform in lower division at a major research university. The results will be thoroughly evaluated and disseminated widely.