Renewal of the Advanced Physics Laboratory Course Brian Davies Western Illinois University

1
Renewal of the Advanced Physics Laboratory
CourseBrian DaviesWestern Illinois University
2
Advanced Lab a unique coursein the Physics
major sequence

• Not directly connected to the content of any
  particular theory course (although we do have
  optics and electronics courses with labs).
• Usually taught by a single person over a
  significant number of years, no rotation.
• Often required, but prerequisites are minimal.
• No canonical textbook, different content in every
  department in the country.

3
Laudable goals of the advanced lab, as listed in
a President's Commentary (September 2007) by
Harvey S. Leff, president of the AAPT

• become proficient using modern experimental
  equipment and techniques,
• engage in experimental design,
• interface equipment with computers,
• use LabVIEW and Excel,
• learn how to analyze data in statistically
  meaningful ways,
• keep a comprehensive lab notebook,
• prepare professional lab reports,
• prepare poster presentations,
• conduct literature searches,
• understand the value and importance of ethics in
  scientific research, and
• develop an appreciation of the connections
  between experimental and theoretical physics.
• - and we could list several more, such as making
  oral presentations, writing professional papers,
  interacting with group members and technical
  staff

4
Compare this diversity of goals with a typical
theory course

• The theory sequence is quite established in
  Physics Departments in the U.S., as evidenced by
  the list of well-known course textbooks on many
  graduate school web sites, and as reinforced by
  standardized exams.
• Modern technology affects course delivery but
  does not affect course content as much as it does
  in the laboratory courses. (This is more evident
  in the lower level upper level classes are still
  often text, blackboard, and homework.)

5
Problematic aspects of the advanced lab

• Whereas all faculty are presumed capable of
  teaching the core undergraduate theory courses,
  often just a few can do well in the advanced lab.
• No agreed-upon content, hence few texts (and no
  particular class would cover all the topics in
  the existing textbooks).
• Constrained by legacy equipment, often cast-off
  from retired research programs.
• Not valued by entire department.
• Lack of support at various levels.
• Isolation of instructors.

6
AAPT Advanced Lab Task Force (ALTF)

• Formed in 2005 and generated a report in 2006 -
  posted on website http//advlabs.aapt.org/
• Suggested the Physics Instructional Resource
  Association (PIRA), an AAPT affiliate, as a model
  organization.
• Led to the formation of the Advanced Laboratory
  Physics Association (ALPhA) in 2007.
• Did not address deeper concerns about the
  purpose, content, and relevance of advanced
  laboratory courses in the physics curriculum.

7
Advanced Laboratory Physics Association (ALPhA)

• Formed in 2007 and now has its own website -
  http//www.advlab.org/
• 2009 and 2012 topical conferences
• 2010 Gordon Research conference
• Laboratory immersions
• Parallel efforts in AAPT (conference sessions and
  a listserv) and COMPADRE (a repository of
  manuals, etc.). http//advlabs.aapt.org/
• APS April 1 2012 - a discussion of resources x

8
Advanced Laboratory Physics Association (ALPhA)

• 2012 Conference on Laboratory Instruction Beyond
  the First Year of College (BfY) (link)
• An ALPhA event, independent of AAPT and APS
• July 25, 2012 - July 27, 2012 at the University
  of Pennsylvania and Drexel University, just prior
  to the national AAPT summer meeting
• Features discussions of lab topics, curriculum
  models, vendors, and hands-on workshops
• Will include goals of labs, taxonomy of
  experimental skills, and ways of assessing the
  impact of labs on the physics curriculum

9
What do you think? What do you recall?

• A balancing act among these ingredients
• Modern physics theory
• Experimental design
• Equipment usage
• Data manipulation
• Report generation
• Presentation skills