Conference Session

Programmatic Issues in Physics or Engineering Physics Programs

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jeff Jalkio, University of St. Thomas; Arnold Weimerskirch, University of St. Thomas

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

Weimerskirch devoted his 40-year Honeywell career to quality improvement, retiring in 1999 as Corporate Vice President of Quality. He is a former chairman of the Panel of Judges for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Arnie holds a BSME and an MSIE from the University of Minnesota. He now serves as a 3M Fellow in the University of St. Thomas School of Engineering. Arnie is co-author of two books: Total Quality Management-Strategies and Techniques Proven at Today’s Most Successful Companies and Process Improvement and Quality Management in the Retail Industry. Page 13.1361.1© American Society

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching Physics or Engineering Phy

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Matthew Kohlmyer, Georgia Institute of Technology; Michael Schatz, Georgia Institute of Technology; Richard Catrambone, Georgia Institute of Technology; Marcus Marr, Georgia Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

course at Georgia Tech, there arebroader questions about what topics should be taught in the class and the proper sequencing ofthose topics. The calculus-based introductory physics course at most U.S. universities hastypically followed the same sequence of the same topics for many decades. The traditionalphysics course is focused entirely on classical, pre-20th century physics, addresses onlymacroscopic systems, and deals only with problems that can be solved analytically. One canquestion whether the traditional content and pedagogy of introductory physics is meeting theneeds of modern science and engineering students, many of whom will pursue careers that arebecoming more dependent on understanding matter at the microscopic level

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching Physics or Engineering Phy

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Teresa Larkin, American University; Dan Budny, University of Pittsburgh

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

students, no matter what their gender, cultural, or demographicbackgrounds, can learn! In a recent report on its review of undergraduate education, theAdvisory Committee to the National Science Foundation's Directorate for Education and HumanResources concluded that “… while K – 12 programming can expand the pool of those interestedin pursing careers in SME&T [Science, Mathematics, Engineering, & Technology], it is at theundergraduate level where attrition and burnout can be most effectively prevented. What we inSME&T education must do is to concern ourselves with all students, not just those whohistorically have been represented in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. Such abreadth of concern has important educational

Conference Session

Programmatic Issues in Physics or Engineering Physics Programs

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Winston Jackson, California Institute of Technology; Jennifer Franck, California Institute of Technology; James Maloney, California Institute of Technology; Juan Pedro Ochoa-Ricoux, California Institute of Technology; Julian Rimoli, California Institute of Technology; Luz Rivas, California Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

universities provide pre-college students an opportunity toexplore careers in science and engineering. For high-achieving students who already have aninterest in these areas, these types of programs can introduce students to advanced concepts,develop their understanding of scientific methodologies, and expose them to science andengineering research. One such program, the Young Engineering and Science Scholars (YESS)Program, is a three-week summer residential program created to bring exceptional high schooljuniors and seniors from underrepresented minority groups to study at the California Institute ofTechnology (Caltech). The program is intended for motivated students who wish to broadentheir knowledge of science and engineering beyond that offered by