Explore the design features of a preparatory physics course aimed at supporting student success in introductory college physics. Learn about innovative approaches to course activities, policies, and infrastructure that promote learning, belonging, growth mindset, peer collaboration, and mentorship for approximately 350 students. Discover how research in education and psychology informs the course design process, addressing challenges faced by STEM students during their transition to college. Gain insights into mastery-based homework, frequent low-stakes assessments, improvement bonus points, and strategies for building social connections among students. Examine initial findings on collaboration in the course and future goals for enhancing group work. Consider how these design principles can be applied to support student success in various academic contexts.
Designing Course Infrastructure to Support Early College Physics
Overview
Syllabus
Designing course activities, policies, and infrastructure to support early college (physics) success at the University of Illinois
Challenges at the start of an engineering degree
Why do students switch out of engineering?
Focus on course activities, policies, and infrastructure • Recent focus on social-psychological interventions
Introductory Physics at U of I
Creating infrastructure for student success
Does Phys 100 "work?"
Current Phys 100 team
NOT one size fits all
Outline of topics
Course Design
Emphasizing Learning over Evaluation Mastery-Based Homework
More Frequent, Lower Stakes Assessments
Improvement Bonus Points
Building social connections between students Finding HW.collaborators Week 1 discussion about transition to college
Finding HW collaborators
4 Learning Assistants Goals
Initial Findings on Collaboration in Phys100
Problem + solution
Students struggle to listen and respond to each other's ideas
A need to support student collaboration
Can group classwork normalize academic struggle?
Group work - future goals for collaboration design
Summary: A focus on course infrastructures
Taught by
physicsteachers
