Our research focuses on introductory college-level physics labs. What do students learn? How can we help them learn better? And what does learning in the lab offer that learning in lecture does not? We have been developing labs that introduce students to the nature of scientific measurement while also developing a conceptual understanding of measurement and uncertainty, a procedural toolbox for handling and analyzing data, and critical thinking behaviors to reason about data scientifically.
Active CDER projects are currently being undertaken by faculty and student researchers across several different academics disciplines. Explore the links below to learn more about each discipline and the collaborative research taking shape between them.
CDER Video Spotlight:
Physics professor Julia Thom-Levy discusses her experience shifting Mechanics & Thermal Physics to an Active Learning Initiative course.