Student Roles

Passive receiver of information Verifier of Physical Laws Recipe follower

Constructor of Understanding Questioner Peer Teacher

Faculty Roles

Provider of Course Content Lecturer

Instruction Designer Course Manager & Guide

TA Roles

Lab Monitor Question Answerer

Learning Facilitator Questioner/Prober Guide Discussion Facilitator

Course Materials

1000+ Page Textbook Detailed Lab Manual

Focused Learning Resources Web Based Resources Learning Guides

Content Sequence

Linear Logical Development Isolated Topics

Thematic, Spiral Approach Topic Connections Emphasized

Learning Activities

Attending Lecture Memorizing Sample Problem Solutions Individually Working Problems Focus on Finding Right Equation

Working in Cooperative Groups Guided Individual and Group Construction of Models Conceptual Understanding and Prototype Solutions

Student Assessment

Focused on Skill at algorithimic Problem Solving

Focus Includes Concept Understanding Rubric Approach to Grading Using Performance Standards Allow Students to Redo Work

Course Evolution

Change has been Slow and Incremental Based on Physicist's Notion of how Course should be Altered

Formative Assessment Built into Course Structure Course Continually Evolves in Response to Student Performance and Needs