Physics Education Research and the Intermediate Physics Laboratory

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Physics Education Researchand theIntermediate
Physics Laboratory

• Dr. Steven C. Sahyun

UWW Science Alliance November 3, 2006
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Physics Education Research

Physics Education Research involves a
coordination between Researching Student
Learning, providing Curriculum Development, and
enhancing and modifying Instruction.
McDermott wheel
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Physics 221 Intermediate Lab
The Learning Model for this course is context
development via project oriented goals. Students
complete laboratory modules that prepare them for
a laboratory based project that is performed and
presented at the Synchrotron Radiation Center
(SRC). Each of the two-week modules represents
an aspect of the experiments at the SRC.
Lab Station 2 Magnetism Magnetic dipole moment
and torque experiments

• Lab Station 1Electron properties
• Helmholtz coil field mapping.
• e/m ratio
• Millikan Oil Drop

Lab Station 3 Computer Interfacing. Data
generation and analysis with LabVIEW

• Lab Station 4Material Properties.
• Mars Rover Spectra (APXS)
• Scanning Tunneling Microscope
• Visible Spectra

Three-week Hands-on and remote experiment project
at the Synchrotron Radiation Center National
Laboratory
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SRC Field Trip
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SRC Field Trip
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SRC Field Trip and Experiment
Pix at src
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SRC Poster Presentation
Students spend three weeks collecting, analyzing,
and preparing their data for a poster
presentation. The students present their posters
to interested SRC staff during a second field
trip to the SRC facility at the end of the
project.
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Research

• Surveys -
• MPEX (Physics Expectations)
• SRC impressions survey
• Quantitative ability survey (under development)

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Curriculum Development

• Improving access and opportunities through
  equipment access and greater skill building.
• Example
• National Instruments LabVIEW grant.

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• LabVIEW is a computer programming and interface
  system widely used in research and industry to
  gather and analyze data and to control equipment.

UWW Students working with LabVIEW
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Future Developments

• The three Is for our students
• Involve students - providing opportunities for
  internships, field studies, or other summer
  experiences.
• Improve resources - equipment donations and
  development opportunities.
• (Cody Kreischer, NI,
• Alan Stanford, and Mel Sahyun)
• Implementation of resources across advanced
  laboratory courses.