Achieving Systemic Change in Physics Teaching at Leading Research Universities

该项目为研究型大学物理系代表会议提供部分支持。这次会议是为了讨论R1物理系如何在他们的本科课程中进行系统性的改变。智力价值：任何试图改变R1物理系物理教学的尝试都必须考虑到他们的班级规模大，管理和后勤方面的挑战，大量的教员和助教参与到这些班级的教学中，这些班级的讲师迅速更换，他们的教员的教育观和技能的多样性，以及教学发生在对物理研究的高度关注的环境中。此外，要使变革持久，就必须将变革植根于该部的文化之中；变革必须是系统性的和强有力的。由于这些独特的功能，R1物理系的变革经验将主要来自于其他R1的经验。因此，为R1们举办一次会议，讨论他们改变物理教学的经验，以及每个人如何借鉴其他人的经验，是很有意义的。广泛的影响：一些领先研究型大学的物理系已经或正在对他们教授物理的方式进行重大改进。他们的工作尤其重要，因为这些部门拥有广泛的资源和很高的知名度，而且他们教授的学生数量很大。正是这些机构的同行才能最好地利用有关R1如何在物理教学中实现系统性变革、关于持久变革的障碍以及关于克服这些障碍的战略的信息。

This project provides partial support for a conference of representatives from physics departments in research (R1) universities. The conference is to discuss ways R1 physics departments can make systemic change in their undergraduate programs. Intellectual Merit: Any attempt to change physics instruction in R1 physics departments must take into account the large size of their classes and their management and logistic challenges, the large number of faculty and teaching assistants involved in teaching these classes, the rapid turnover of instructors for these classes, the diversity of their faculty's educational outlook and skills, and the fact that instruction occurs in a milieu of intense concern for physics research. In addition, for changes to be lasting they must become embedded in the department's culture; they must be systemic and robust. Because of these distinctive features, lessons for change at R1 physics departments will come primarily from the experiences at other R1s. Therefore, it makes good sense to have a conference for R1s to discuss their experiences in changing their physics instruction and how each of them can build on others' experiences.Broader Impact: Physics departments at a number of leading research universities have made or are making significant improvements in how they teach physics. Their work is especially important because these departments have extensive resources and high visibility, and they teach large numbers of students. It is the peers of these institutions that can make the best use of information about how R1s achieve systemic change in physics teaching, about the obstacles to lasting change, and about strategies for overcoming these obstacles.