Collaborative Research: Integrating Computation into Undergraduate Physics--A Faculty Development Approach to Community Transformation

五个不同机构之间的这种合作将建立和培育一个致力于将计算融入本科物理课程的教师社区。 虽然计算方法在物理研究中很重要，但在本科物理课程中却很缺乏。该项目将通过教师发展研讨会，研讨会后的支持系统，和社区建设研究项目来解决这一需求。 该项目将专注于开发可移植的，适应性强的和可持续的方法，将教学策略注入本科物理课程。它将把基于计算机的算法问题解决置于与传统的数学和实验方法同等的地位。 参与者将开发计算练习，并将其纳入讲习班的物理课程，随后将获得支持，以确保将其开发的材料成功纳入其课程。 在参与者的发展活动中将强调教师的所有权，这对可运输性和可持续性至关重要。该项目将对社区建设方法的有效性以及将计算融入本科物理课程的程度进行深入的研究。它将作为一个案例研究，为有关高等教育实践变革的文献提供信息。这一研究部分及其传播计划将确保社区不仅在成员数量上，而且在大规模评估和实施最佳做法方面继续增长。 当开发的计算材料用于物理教室时，全国的STEM学生学习将得到加强。

This collaboration among five diverse institutions will build and nurture a community of faculty committed to integrating computation in undergraduate physics courses. Although computational methods are important in physics research, they are scarce in the undergraduate physics curriculum. This project will address this need through faculty development workshops, a post-workshop support system, and a community building research project. This project will focus on developing transportable, adaptable, and sustainable methods for infusing an instructional strategy into the undergraduate physics curriculum. It will place computer-based, algorithmic problem solving in a position that is coequal to traditional mathematical and experimental methods. Participants will develop computational exercises to be integrated into their physics courses at the workshops, and later will receive support to ensure that the integration of their developed materials into their courses is successful. Faculty ownership will be emphasized in the participants' development activities and is essential for transportability and sustainability. The project will conduct a thorough research study of the effectiveness of the community building approach, as well as the degree to which integration of computation into undergraduate physics courses has increased. It will serve as a case-study informing the literature on change in higher education practices. This research component and its dissemination plan will ensure that the community will continue to grow not only in membership, but also in the large-scale assessment and implementation of best practices. When the computational materials developed are used in physics classrooms, STEM student learning across the country will be enhanced.