Visiting STEM education scholar, workshop & colloquium

Dr. Steven Pollock, University of Colorado with be visiting Tuesday, October 24.  The Department of Physics and Astronomy will be hosting a workshop and Distinguished Colloquium presented by this highly-recognized science educator and researcher. 

Dr. Pollock has been a leader in developing tools and instructional formats to increase student engagement and raise student success in both introductory and upper-division undergraduate physics courses.  His focus has been on the use of research/evidence based approaches to improving instruction.  Among Dr. Pollock’s many awards, he received the 2013 U.S. Professor of the Year Award for Doctoral/Research Universities.

WORKSHOP

Tuesday, October 24
SPARK RM 212, noon – 1:30 p.m.

“Writing Great Clicker Questions and Sparking Peer Discussion”

If you are using, or want to use, clickers in your classroom, but are struggling to write, revise, and implement questions that engage students, this informal workshop is for you. We will focus on questions that facilitate “peer instruction” — a research-tested method of requiring students to discuss challenging questions with one another. This workshop is appropriate for instruction in all STEM disciplines, and will focus on questions with one right answer.

Lunch will be provided and space is limited, please RSVP to physics@wsu.edu by Thursday, October 19!

DISTINGUISHED COLLOQUIUM

Tuesday, October 24
WEBSTER RM 17, 4:10 – 5 p.m.
Reception to follow

“A research-validated approach to transforming upper-division physics courses”

At most universities, including the University of Colorado, upper-division physics courses have been taught using a traditional lecture approach that does not make use of many of the instructional techniques that have been found to improve student learning at the introductory level.  We are transforming upper-division courses (E&M, Classical and Quantum Mechanics) using principles of active engagement and learning theory, guided by the results of observations, interviews, and analysis of student work at CU and elsewhere. I will outline these reforms including consensus learning goals, clicker questions, tutorials, modified homework, and more, as an example of what a transformed upper-division course can look like, and as a tool to offer insights into student difficulties in advanced undergraduate topics.  We have evaluated the effectiveness of these reforms relative to traditional courses, based on grades, interviews, as well as attitudinal and conceptual surveys.  We conclude with a brief overview of the effectiveness of these reforms and the current challenges facing undergraduate STEM education.

Please contact Tom Dickinson with any questions: jtd@wsu.edu

The Notices and Announcements section is provided as a service to the WSU community for sharing events such as lectures, trainings, and other highly transactional types of information related to the university experience. Information provided and opinions expressed may not reflect the understanding or opinion of WSU. Accuracy of the information presented is the responsibility of those who submitted it. The self-uploaded posts are reviewed for compliance with state statutes and ethics guidelines but are not edited for spelling, grammar, or clarity.

Next Story

Birthday wishes for WSU’s 134th

Washington State University was founded on March 28, 1890. To celebrate WSU’s 134th birthday, all campuses got involved.

Recent News

Provost finalists visiting the week of April 1

Finalists in the process of interviewing for the position of provost and executive vice president will present to the public during their visits to WSU next week.

McCoy named interim WSU athletic director

A widely recognized leader in intercollegiate athletics, McCoy will serve while a national search is conducted for the next athletic director.

WSU to review administrative structure

President Kirk Schulz used his annual State of the University Address to highlight both achievements and challenges while also announcing a planned review of WSU’s administrative structure and academic programs.