Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching Physics or Engineering Phy

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Robert Ross, University of Detroit Mercy; Jenna Ross, Utica Center for Mathematics Science and Technology

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

, persuasivespeaking, and physics. Our unique program targets incoming high school freshmen from adiverse urban population. For several years the physics course was based on a traditionalintroductory college mechanics laboratory curriculum. This curriculum was not inquiry-basedand provided only limited opportunities for students to construct their own knowledge byperforming open-ended activities.Scholarly research into the teaching and, more importantly, the learning of physics has providedvaluable guidance for the design of innovative curricula and pedagogy 1 . The pedagogicalstrategies that are able to demonstrate high rates of student achievement, as measured bystandardized examinations, involve some form of what is commonly called interactiveengagement

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching Physics or Engineering Phy

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Adrian Ieta, Murray State University; Arthur Pallone

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

member and a registered Professional Engineer of Ontario. He taught at the University of Western Ontario and is now Assistant Professor at Murray State University, Department of Engineering and Physics.Art Pallone, Murray State University Art Pallone holds a Ph.D in Applied Physics from the Colorado School of Mines (2000) in Golden, CO USA. He also holds an M.S. in Applied Physics from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (1995) and a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan (1991). From 2000 to 2003, he held a Davies Fellows Postdoctoral Teaching and Research appointment cosponsored by the United States Military Academy and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory. He

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

different from what is discussed in lecture that week.) Because ofthis, laboratory teaching assistants (TAs) need to be familiar with the content of the course. TheM&I labs are taught in an interactive studio style, where students engage in hands-onexperiments, computer modeling activities, and group problem solving. Because of this, labsideally require more than one TA per 20-student section, and special TA training is required.In Spring 2006, a small number of graduate TAs were trained in the labs for both semester ofM&I. These TAs served as experienced TAs in future semesters, and were supplemented withnew TAs who were trained “just-in-time” during weekly course meetings. To make up for TAslost from the pool each semester, a larger

Conference Session

Technology in the Physics or Engineering Physics C

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nataliia Perova, Tufts University; Walter H. Johnson, Suffolk University; Chris Rogers, Tufts University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

AC 2008-1562: USING LEGO BASED ENGINEERING ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVEUNDERSTANDING CONCEPTS OF SPEED, VELOCITY, AND ACCELERATIONNataliia Perova, Tufts University Natasha is currently a graduate students at Tufts University majoring in Mathematics, Science, Technology and Engineering education. She previously earned her M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Tufts University in 2005 and B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Suffolk University. Natasha is currently a research assistant at the Center for Engineering Outreach where she is involved in using engineering approaches to teach high school students science and mathematics.Walter H. Johnson, Suffolk University Walter got his PhD and M.S. from

Conference Session

Programmatic Issues in Physics or Engineering Physics Programs

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Anca Sala, Baker College; Raghu Echempati, Kettering University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

AC 2008-923: DIRECT ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES INPHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS COURSESAnca Sala, Baker College ANCA L. SALA, Assistant Professor, is Chair of the Mechanical Engineering Department at Baker College. Dr. Sala coordinates several engineering and technology programs, is actively involved in teaching and developing engineering curriculum, and leads the ABET accreditation activities in the department. She is a member of ASEE, ASME, and OSA.Raghu Echempati, Kettering University RAGHU ECHEMPATI is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Kettering University (formerly GMI Engineering & Management Institute). He has over 20 years of teaching, research and consulting

Conference Session

Technology in the Physics or Engineering Physics C

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nataliia Perova, Tufts University; Patricia Hogan, Suffolk University; Walter H. Johnson, Suffolk University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

AC 2008-2143: USING WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORK AS AN EDUCATIONALTOOL FOR LEARNING SCIENCE CONCEPTSNataliia Perova, Tufts University Natasha is currently a graduate students at Tufts University majoring in Mathematics, Science, Technology and Engineering education. She previously earned her M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Tufts University in 2005 and B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Suffolk University. Natasha is currently a research assistant at the Center for Engineering Outreach where she is involved in using engineering approaches to teach high school students science and mathematics.Patricia Hogan, Suffolk University Patricia Hogan, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Physics and

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

AC 2008-2378: PHYSICS FUNDAMENTALS, ENGINEERING DESIGN, ANDRESEARCH: AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ATHREE-WEEK SHORTCOURSEWinston Jackson, California Institute of Technology Winston Jackson received his BS in Civil Engineering from Southern University and A&M College and his MS degree in Applied Mechanics at the California Institute of Technology, where he is currently continuing his PhD work. His research is in the area of experimental solid mechanics, and he has been a teaching assistant for a course in solid mechanics as well as the Physics Curriculum Coordinator for the 2007 YESS Program.Jennifer Franck, California Institute of Technology Jennifer Franck is currently a

Conference Session

Programmatic Issues in Physics or Engineering Physics Programs

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Glenn Ellis, Smith College; Mary Moriarty, Smith College; Gary Felder, Smith College

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

AC 2008-1983: A LEARNER-CENTERED APPROACH FOR PREPARINGAT-RISK STUDENTSGlenn Ellis, Smith College Dr. Ellis is an Associate Professor of Engineering at Smith College. He received his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering and Operations Research from Princeton University. Now in his seventh year at Smith College, Dr. Ellis teaches courses in engineering mechanics, artificial intelligence and educational methods for teaching science and engineering. He has published numerous papers on K-16 engineering education and works with various organizations on issues of educational reform. The winner of numerous teaching awards, Dr. Ellis recently received the 2007 U.S. Professor of the Year Award for