Committee on Undergraduate Physics Education Research and Implementation Summary This study is designed to address some of the principal challenges and opportunities facing the undergraduate physics education and education research communities. It has two principal components. First, the committee will assess the current status of physics education and physics education research (PER) and in doing so, develop a summary of what is now known about learning and teaching physics, and assessing physics education. The second component will build on that assessment by addressing current issues in the PER field and more generally attempting to develop a series of recommendations for implementing best teaching practices on a wider and more sustained basis. It is expected that recommendations will be directed to those engaged in PER, to academic institutions providing undergraduate physics education, and to those setting education policy. Project Information Statement of Task The committee will produce a report that identifies the goals and challenges facing undergraduate physics education and identifies how best practices for undergraduate physics education can be implemented on a widespread and sustained basis. In so doing, the committee will assess the status of physics education research (PER), and will discuss how PER can assist in accomplishing the goal of improving undergraduate physics education best practices and education policy. As part of this task, the committee will: - Assess the current status of Physics Education and PER by:
(a) Describing the current landscape of undergraduate physics education with a focus on its ability to recruit and retain undergraduate students in physics, to prepare and support teachers of physics and physical science from K-12, and to provide meaningful physics education to other science and technology professionals;
(b) Discussing progress and issues in the PER field, including preparation of a synthesis of findings from this body of research; and
(c) Identifying and examining the efficacy of current assessment methods.
- Address the future of undergraduate physics education and PER by:
(a) Identifying best practices in undergraduate physics education for majors and non-majors alike;
(b) Identifying those practices and programs in physics that effectively engage, recruit, prepare, and support current and future pre-college teachers
(c) Considering mechanisms to deploy assessment tools by which best practices and research-based findings in physics education can be scaled to make them more widespread and sustained;
(d) Identifying the future directions of PER; and
(e) Recommending strategies for academic institutions and policymakers to implement those mechanisms to improve undergraduate physics education.
Committee Members and NRC Staff Donald N. Langenberg, Chair, University of Maryland
Suzanne Brahmia, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
Jerry P. Gollub, Haverford College
David Hammer, Center for Engineering Education and Outreach, Tufts University
Charles Henderson, Western Michigan University
Paula Heron, University of Washington
Theodore Hodapp, American Physical Society
Michael P. Marder, University of Texas
Jose P. Mestre, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Mary Beth Monroe, Southwest Texas Junior College
Valerie Otero, University of Colorado at Boulder
David E. Pritchard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
James Schafer, Montgomery Blair High School, Montgomery County Public Schools
Jack M. Wilson, The University of Massachusetts
Hung-Hsi Wu, University of California Berkeley
Dean Zollman, Kansas State University NRC Staff
James Lancaster, Director
Donald C. Shapero, Seinor Scholar
Caryn Knutsen, Associate Program Officer
Teri G. Thorowgood, Administrative Coordinator Upcoming Events There are currently no upcoming events scheduled. Past Events March 18-19, 2011
Meeting 1
Keck Center of the National Academies
Washington, DC
See the UPE Current Projects page for agenda and more information May 31-June1, 2011
Meeting 2
Beckman Center of the National Academies
Irvine, CA
See the UPE Current Projects page for agenda and more information July 25-26, 2011
Meeting 3
Beckman Center of the National Academies
Irvine, CA
See the UPE Current Projects page for agenda and more information September 22-24, 2011
Meeting 4
Jonsson Center of the National Academies
Woods Hole, MA
See the UPE Current Projects page for agenda and more information January 13-14, 2012
Meeting 5
Keck Center of the National Academies
Washington, DC
The meeting is closed in its entirety. See the UPE Current Projects page for more information. Community Input Please send comments or suggestions to the committee via e-mail at bpa@nas.edu. Community input will be posted on this Web site as it is received. Sponsor The project is pleased to acknowledge support from the National Science Foundation. The National Academies' Current Projects System The National Academies' Current Projects System maintains the public record of a committees' activities compliant to Section 15 of the Federal Adivisory Committee Act. Visit the Committee on Undergraduate Physics Education Research and Implementation Current Projects page for more information.
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