Incorporating Modeling into Upper-division Physics Labs

关于学生如何在物理入门课程中获得概念知识，包括第一年实验课程中的一些工作，已经有相当多的研究。 直到最近，系统的研究和基于研究的高年级实验室课程的转变几乎不存在。虽然很少有物理教育研究（PER）已经做了这些实验室课程，他们旨在教的技能被教师引用为学生在研究生院或其他研究相关的努力取得成功的关键。项目小组最近的一个小型项目已经开始解决本科教育的这一领域。 这项工作的成果包括基于研究的材料、评估、课程、教学指南和转变过程。在科罗拉多大学的高级实验室课程中，一个主要的主题是使用建模来吸引学生围绕复杂的物理学思想进行定量思考。第一个组成部分适用于并扩大了在高年级的实验室课程的建模集成研究：完成改造科罗拉多的先进实验室，与教育设备制造商的合作伙伴，开发一个新的光学课程的研究生衔接计划沿着与同事在南非开普敦大学，并运行一个研讨会上集成建模到实验室在各种机构。第二个组成部分使用以前开发的实验室课程转换过程，以完全改变科罗拉多的高年级电子实验室，并运行沉浸式的经验，在其他机构的教师将建模教学方法纳入他们当地的实验室。第三部分为单光子实验室实验创建基于研究的材料，并研究不同的学习环境如何影响学生对量子力学的概念理解和观点。 目标是对物理学本科专业的实验教育产生最大的影响。智力优势：本项目采用了一种基于研究的课程转型方法。 它通过显着扩展有限的研究基础，学生如何获得实验研究技能，以及如何最好地实现广泛实施的研究为基础的课程，在上师水平的进步PER。该项目团队带来了课程转型的成功历史，实验室课程的评估和评价，以及对可持续和可扩展的改革模式的研究。更广泛的影响：该项目直接和积极地影响了全国和国际上数百名物理专业的教育。学生可以发展科学过程技能，更好地为本科和研究生的研究经验或研究生涯做好准备。该项目还为教师提供资源，以适当地调整材料，以适应当地环境，提高自己的教学专业知识。因此，这些材料将具有直接的价值，相关性和可能的重大利益，在全国提供本科物理课程的学院和大学。此外，这些技术可能会影响其他学科的高级实验室和研究准备。 最终，这个项目可以大大有助于国家的使命，以培养优秀的，创造性的和生产力的科学家和工程师。

There has been considerable research on how students gain conceptual knowledge in introductory physics courses, including some work in first-year lab courses. Systematic studies and research-based transformations of upper-division lab courses were, until recently, nearly non-existent. Although very little physics education research (PER) has been done on these lab courses, the skills they aim to teach are cited by faculty as critical for students' success in graduate school or other research-related endeavors. The project team's recent work on a small project has begun to address this area of undergraduate education. The outcomes of that work include research-based materials, assessments, curricula, teaching guides, and a transformation process. One major theme has been using modeling to engage students in quantitative thinking around sophisticated physics ideas in the University of Colorado's Advanced Lab class.This project has three interconnected components that build on initial work. The first component applies and expands the research on integrating modeling in upper-division lab courses to: finish transforming Colorado's Advanced Lab, partner with manufacturers of educational equipment, develop a new optics course for a graduate bridging program along with colleagues at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and run a workshop on integrating modeling into labs at variety of institutions. A second component uses the previously developed lab course transformation process to completely transform Colorado's upper-division electronics lab and run an Immersion experience for instructors at other institutions to incorporate a modeling pedagogical approach into their local labs. A third component creates research-based materials for single-photon lab experiments and studies how different learning environments impact students' conceptual understanding and perspectives on quantum mechanics. The goal is to have the largest possible impact on the experimental education of undergraduate physics majors.Intellectual Merit: This project uses a course transformation methodology that is strongly grounded in research. It advances PER by significantly extending the limited base of research on how students acquire experimental research skills, as well as on how best to achieve wide implementation of research-based curricula at the upper-division level. The project team brings a successful history of course transformation, assessment and evaluation of laboratory courses, and research on sustainable and scalable models of reform.Broader Impacts: This project directly and positively impacts the education of hundreds of physics majors across the nation and internationally. Students can develop scientific process skills that better prepare them for undergraduate and graduate research experiences or research careers. This project also provides resources for faculty to appropriately adapt material to their local environments, improving their own pedagogical expertise. Thus, the materials will be of direct value, relevance and likely significant interest to colleges and universities in the nation that offer undergraduate physics programs. In addition, the techniques may influence advanced lab and research preparation in other disciplines. Ultimately, this project can significantly contribute to the national mission to develop outstanding, creative, and productive scientists and engineers.