Graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) are key partners in the education of undergraduates. Given the potentially large impact GTAs can have on undergraduate student learning, it is important to provide them with appropriate preparation for teaching. But GTAs are students themselves, and not all of them desire to pursue an academic career. Fully…

Education research provides a range of curricular reform options that can lead to improved student course outcomes. These options can appear easy to implement with the hope of immediate increases in student learning. In 2006 the Ithaca College Physics Department went down this path by moving all of their 100-level courses out of lecture halls and…

Over the past few decades, a growing body of evidence demonstrates that students learn best in engaging, interactive, collaborative, and inquiry-based environments. However, most college science classes are still taught with traditional methods suggesting the existing selection of research-based instructional materials has not widely transformed…

Emissions reductions targets for the UK set out in the Climate Change Act for the period to 2050 will only be achieved with significant changes to the built environment, which is currently estimated to account for 50% of the UK's carbon emissions. The socio-technological nature of Civil Engineering means that this field is uniquely placed to lead…

Funded by innovative programs at the National Science Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Richmond faculty in biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and computer science teamed up to offer first- and second-year students the opportunity to contribute to vibrant, interdisciplinary research projects. The result was…

Who owns a new science course once it has been developed? If teachers teach a course in their own way, does this transformation improve or deform it? The development of "Advancing Physics" provokes some fresh thought about these questions. (Author/MM)

What happens when university curriculum developers are mixed with motivated elementary teachers? ? An awesome learning collaboration that benefits researchers, teachers, and students! That's what the authors discovered when they--university researchers involved in the Physics for Elementary Teachers (PET) project--teamed up with local elementary…

The organization of education in Australia is briefly described. Revisions and development of physics curricula, including British and American projects, are discussed. (TS)

From an organizational point of view, a new high school physics program was developed. The teaching load was divided between two teachers. Benefits of the program were more preparation time for teachers and better student motivation. (PS)

Briefly reviews the broad-based first degree programs in British Universities and considers the general problems of such programs. Explains the general approach used at the University of Leeds, including seven combined degree programs with physics as one principle subject. Employment prospects for graduates are considered good. (PR)

Describes the development of a high school physics curriculum from a small course to a large program involving general and advanced first year courses and an advanced placement program. Recruiting of students and curriculum revisions are also discussed. (TS)

Sections of this article deal with (1) the first quarter of a beginning mechanics course, (2) development of computer based learning materials in other parts of physics, (3) production strategies, and (4) the future of computer based learning in physics and other areas. (Author/CMV)