Why Doesn’t It Work Here?
A Systems Approach to Physics Instruction

Ken Heller, University of Minnesota

Introductory physics is the gateway to modern technical professions. That student diversity leads adventurous physics instructors to try a new pedagogy or technology.  After a few years the course reverts to its original form. We all recognize that a course is a system with students, instructors, disciplinary culture, content, institutional constraints, and stakeholders as essential and interlocking components. This talk will give examples of lasting change to seed a discussion about improving student learning and identifying the elements in that complex system we call a course.

Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Time: 4pm reception (refreshments and music), 4:30pm lecture
Location: Chemistry’s Thatcher Seminar Room – TBBC 4630

 

Kenneth Heller is the College of Science and Engineering Distinguished Professor of Physics and Morse Alumni Distinguished Teacher Professor at University of Minnesota. His particle physics research in neutrino oscillations is currently with the NOvA experiment. He has served on the Fermilab Board of Trustees and Users Executive Committee, as president of AAPT, and chair of APS Forum on Education. He is a fellow of the APS and AAAS.

 

For more information about the Hugo Rossi Lecture series, click here.