1. Revising the introductory
physics sequence at
Central Washington University
Michael Jackson
Department of Physics
Central Washington University
2. Background
2007-2008 AY
• 20 physics majors
• 1 physics degree
(on average about
4.5 degrees/yr)
• 5 FTEF
2012-2013 AY
• 80 physics majors
• 14 physics degree
(this year about 20
physics degrees)
• 4.5 FTEF
o Functional department; #s were just small.
o Any elements missing from the SPIN-UP report
were implemented such as engaging introductory
courses taught by the ‘best’ instructors. Students
became ‘aware’ of their desire to study physics.
3. The introductory sequence
2007-2008 AY
• 72 student lecture section
• Four 18 student lab sections
• Lecture and lab sections
independent and taught by
different instructors
2012-2013 AY
• Two to three 40 student
lecture/lab sections
• Instructors for various
sections can differ
• 12 WLU (contact hours);
4 WLU for lecture and 2
WLU per lab section
• 6 WLU (contact hours)
per integrated
lecture/lab section
o Slightly more students are being served using the
same resources in an environment that has been
demonstrated to better facilitate student learning.
5. Stakeholders
• Administration
No cost, no problem
• Students
There will be resistance (placing experienced
faculty in this class is very important)
There are demonstrated gains (helpful to
regularly remind students of this)
• Faculty and Staff
PER has demonstrated improved student
learning (so consider it an experiment)
Are there any champions among the faculty?
6. Our Results
o Department’s enrollment growth.
o Some improvement in student learning and we
can do better!
o Its an experiment! So we can continue to monitor
our courses, making adjustments based on student
and faculty needs.
7. References
• SPIN-UP report, National Task Force on Undergraduate
Physics, retrieved March 7, 2014 from
http://www.aapt.org/programs/projects/ntfup/index.cfm
http://www.aps.org/programs/education/undergrad/facult
y/spinup/spinup-report.cfm
• SCALE-UP (Dr. Robert Beichner, NC State University)
http://www.ncsu.edu/per/scaleup.html
• A manuscript outlining a portion of our work at CWU is
being prepared by my colleague (Dr. Bruce Palmquist)
that will be submitted to Effective Practices in Preservice
Physics Teacher Education.
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