A Novel Applied Quantum Mechanics Course Aligned with the Electrical Engineering Curriculum

工程-电气(55)该项目正在为电气工程师开发和实施一门新的初级应用量子力学课程，该课程符合电气和计算机工程的标准课程。拟议的课程将量子力学与现有的电磁场理论和电子器件课程结合起来，以便将三门课程之间的相关波动行为和量子理论联系起来。这一组合在这些领域提供了更有凝聚力的背景，并允许扩展高级部门固态设备课程的覆盖范围。新课程使用螺旋式教学模式，将基本量子概念融入与电气工程相关的应用科学和工程案例研究中。它还使用计算机模拟工具来提供基本和应用量子概念的可视化，以及同伴主导的团队学习(PLTL)模型，以促进学习并激励学生成为积极的学习者。课程材料正在与美国国家科学基金会资助的计算纳米技术网络(NCN)一起开发，将纳入NanoHUB网站。评估工作由两名独立评价员领导，一名评价员衡量项目目标的进展情况，另一名评价员负责探索性研究和评估与课程目标相关的学习和表现中的意念(动机和意志)功能。项目团队正在通过网站张贴、与德克萨斯大学系统LSAMP的教师研讨会、与少数族裔服务机构联盟的特别计划、会议演示和期刊出版物来传播他们的材料和评估结果。更广泛的影响包括传播其材料，特别关注为少数群体服务的机构。

Engineering - Electrical (55)The project is developing and implementing a novel junior level Applied Quantum Mechanics Course for Electrical Engineers that fits in the standard Electrical and Computer Engineering curriculum. The proposed course aligns quantum mechanics with existing courses on electromagnetic field theory and electronic devices in order to connect related wave behavior and quantum theory between the three courses. This combination is providing a more cohesive background in these areas and allowing extended coverage in upper division solid state device courses. The new course is using a spiral teaching model to incorporate fundamental quantum concepts into applied scientific and engineering case studies that are relevant to electrical engineering. It also is using computer simulation tools to provide visualization of both fundamental and applied quantum concepts and a peer led team learning (PLTL) model to facilitate learning and to motivate students to become active learners. Course materials are being developed in conjunction with the NSF funded Network for Computational Nanotechnology (NCN) to be incorporated into the NanoHUB website. Assessment efforts are being led by two independent evaluators with one measuring progress toward project goals and the other conducting exploratory research and evaluation on conative (motivation and volition) functions in learning and performing in relation to course goals. The project team is disseminating their materials and evaluation results through website posting, faculty workshops with the University of Texas System's LSAMP, special programs with an alliance for minority serving institutions, conference presentation, and journal publications. Broader impacts include the dissemination of their material with a special focus on minority serving institutions.