Communicating Physics through Letters - Enhancing Scientific Writing Skills

Explore an innovative approach to teaching scientific writing in physics through a 52-minute talk on the "Letters Home" activity. Learn how this upper-division lab curriculum redesign helps students develop essential communication skills by writing personalized letters to non-experts about physics concepts. Discover the benefits of positioning students as experts, introducing scientific writing through a familiar medium, and fostering researcher identity. Examine the study results showing how students transfer skills from letter writing to lab reports, demonstrating the effectiveness of this teaching method. Gain insights on incorporating this novel activity into your courses to motivate students and enhance their scientific communication abilities.