2010 Gordon Research Conference on Physics Research and Education

 Experimental Research and Laboratories in Physics Education

The topic of the next Gordon Research Conference on Physics Research and Education will be on the use of experiments, laboratories and research in the physics curriculum. The goal is to gather educators and researchers for discussions on ways to understand and improve the role of experimentation in training physics students, and the use of laboratories in physics education.

Technological advances and the evaluation of the way physics is taught have led to numerous changes in the physics curriculum. Laboratories and role of experimentation have not received the comprehensive attention that they deserve. For example, the advanced lab poses numerous challenges today. Should it be a research experience? What table-top technologies provide the best settings for modern advanced laboratories? What new research problems have found their way into the advanced lab? How can we effectively involve undergraduates in scientific research as part of the curriculum? Our aim is to revisit the use of labs and experimentation across the curriculum. What new laboratories are there for upper-level courses? What new hands-on activities and experiments have been developed?

The conference will be an opportunity to discuss global issues as well. What overarching goals (e.g., developing concepts, modeling, building skills, understanding errors) are we attempting to achieve with labs? How should we best use laboratories in the introductory sequence? Are there new ideas and models that work better than the conventional approach? Are we achieving those goals and objectives with our current programs? What assessment measures do we have to understand the role of laboratories? What new research results address these topics?

The conference will give the physics community an opportunity to rethink these ideas and learn of success stories. The format of the conference involves morning and evening plenary sessions followed by discussion periods. Afternoons free of scheduling offer opportunities for informal interactions and exchange of ideas. Poster sessions will offer participants a forum for presenting their own work. We invite college and university faculty, laboratory instructors, post-docs, graduate and undergraduate students, and equipment developers to attend and participate.

Co-Chairs: Chandralekha Singh and Enrique J. Galvez

Vice-Chair: Peter Shaffer