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，已经有相当多的研究，包括在一年级实验室课程中的一些工作。直到最近，高级实验室课程的系统研究和以研究为基础的转变几乎是不存在的。尽管对这些实验室课程的物理教育研究(PER)很少，但教师们认为，它们旨在教授的技能对学生在研究生院或其他与研究相关的努力中取得成功至关重要。项目团队最近在一个小项目上的工作已经开始解决这一本科教育领域的问题。这项工作的成果包括以研究为基础的材料、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堂上，一个主要的主题是使用建模来让学生围绕复杂的物理思想进行量化思考。这个项目有三个相互关联的组成部分，它们建立在最初的工作基础上。第一部分应用并扩展了在高级实验室课程中集成建模的研究：完成对科罗拉多州高级实验室的改造，与教育设备制造商合作，与南非开普敦大学的同事一起为研究生衔接项目开发一门新的光学课程，并在不同机构举办关于将建模集成到实验室中的研讨会。第二个组成部分使用之前开发的实验室课程改造流程，彻底改造科罗拉多州的高级电子实验室，并为其他机构的教师提供沉浸式体验，将建模教学方法纳入当地实验室。第三个组成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。目标是对本科物理专业的实验教学产生最大可能的影响。智力优势：这个项目使用了一种以研究为基础的课程转换方法。它大大扩展了关于学生如何获得实验研究技能的有限研究基础，以及关于如何最好地在高一级广泛实施以研究为基础的课程的研究，从而推动了PER。该项目团队带来了课程转换、实验室课程评估和评估的成功历史，以及可持续和可扩展的改革模式研究。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学生的教育。学生可以培养科学过程技能，为本科生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，使他们能够适当地调整材料以适应当地环境，提高他们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，并可能对全国提供本科物理课程的学院和大学产生重大兴趣。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，该项目将为培养杰出的、有创造力的、多产的科学家和工程师的国家使命做出重大贡献。

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.