THE TAMU APPEAL PROGRAM:
Merging traditional lectures with inquiry based learning, active engagement, and peer
lead learning techniques in upper undergraduate courses (PHYS 221 and PHYS 302).
| The TAMU APPEAL Program merges parts of the Oregon State University Paradigms in Physics (PP) program, based on a new undergraduate junior level curriculum, with traditional
curriculum standard upper-undergraduate Physics courses. The restructuring
of courses merges new methodologies with effective aspects of the traditional
lecture courses by: |
- Introducing inquiry based, peer lead active learning coupled with
lectures. The 20-30 minute activities are conducted in small groups and
span kinesthetic, visual and more mathematical based activities.
- Introducing a higher level of mathematical sophistication closely coupled
with introductory chapters of future advanced courses to ease the
transition to upper division courses.
- Emphasizing peer-learning interactions through brief, inquiry based group activities and using new testing methods, including individual and team based tests.
- Maintaining student engagement during class through short answer small whiteboard questions.
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Integration of these new educational techniques with traditional courses will facilitate implementation of improvements
introduced by the Paradigms program into other institutions without the
need for a major curriculum restructure. The PP and APPEAL programs address
the shortcomings of traditional curricula courses at the sophomore and
beginning junior level which, in most cases, fail to help students transition
smoothly from a novice's basic step-wise approach to scientific learning
to an expert's higher level of learning with multiple dimensions and connections
among the different courses already covered.
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To facilitate implementation of this program in other institutions we give
here extensive explanations of the developed teaching methods merged within
the lectures of the introductory PHYS 221 Waves and Optics course. These include Small White Board Prompts, Large White Board Group Activities, Computer Visualization activities, and Team Testing. We provide detailed instructions for each group activity and numerical activity used in PHYS 221 as well as extensive video of the lectures and activities.
Within the PHYS 302 Advanced Mechanics courses the techniques have been used mostly within
the help
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sessions in the way of Strategic Wind Sprints with Small Whiteboards and Pre-testing.
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Texas A&M University Physics Department
College Station, TX 77843-4242 | (979) 845-7717 | Fax
(979) 845-2590