1. Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format
Overview of current introductory physics labs at Pitt
Course Transformation Award – Plans
Initial Results from Fall Semester 2016
Long Term Plans
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format

2. Three Introductory Physics Lab Courses
PHYS 0212 – Introduction to Laboratory Physics
2 Credit hours
Algebra based
Co-requisite PHYS 0111 Introduction to Physics 2
PHYS 0219 – Basic Laboratory Physics for Science and Engineering
Calculus based
Co-requisite PHYS 0175 Basic Physics for Science and Engineering 2
PHYS 0520 – UHC Modern Physics Measurements
3 Credit hours
Pre-requisite PHYS 0175 or 0476 Introduction to Physics, Science and Engineering 2
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format

3. The Structure of PHYS 0219 PHYS 0219 meets twice each week:
50 Minute Recitation – All of the students meet for a lecture on the basic theory and how the theory will be tested.
3 Hour Lab – The students work in groups of 2 or 3 to complete the experiments. The lab sessions have a maximum of 24 students and are run by a TA.
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format

4. Course Transformation Award - Plan
Rather than reinventing the wheel, we will implement a curriculum developed by:
David Sokoloff (University of Oregon)
Ronald Thornton (Tufts University)
Priscilla Laws (Dickinson College)
RealTime Physics
Active Learning Laboratories
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format

5. New Schedule for PHYS 0219
Due to university holidays, the labs only meet for 13 weeks during the fall and spring semesters.
Week 1 – Acceleration in one dimension
Week 2 – Simple harmonic motion
Week 3 – Equilibrium of a rotating fluid
Week 4 – Velocity of sound and harmonics
Week 5 – Module 3-4 Batteries, Bulbs and Current
Week 6 – Module 3-5 Current in Simple DC Circuits
Week 7 – Module 3-6 Voltage in Simple DC Circuits and Ohm’s Law
Week 8 – Module 3-8 Introduction to Capacitors and RC Circuits
Week 9 – Module 3-9 Magnetism
Week 10 – Module 3-10 Electromagnetism
Week 11 – Geometrical optics
Week 12 – Physical optics (diffraction)
Week 13 – Makeup labs
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format

6. Course Transformation Award - Plan
The students will complete a survey after the first set of traditional labs.
A professor will observe both the traditional and inquiry based labs.
They will complete the same survey after the six inquiry based labs.
The TAs will keep track of the time that they spend grading both traditional and inquiry based labs.
There will be a focus group with the lab students each semester to discuss both formats.
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format

7. Survey Question 2
The experiments in this lab have reinforced the concepts that I have learned in my introductory physics lecture courses (PHYS 0174 and 0175).
After 6
Inquiry Based
Labs
Survey 1
Survey 2
(4) Strongly Agree 8 11
(3) Agree 22 20
(2) No Opinion 5 2
(1) Disagree 1
(0) Strongly Disagree
Total Responses 37 34
Weighted Average
74%
80%
After 4
Traditional
Labs
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format

8. Survey Question 3
I should easily be able to earn an A or B in this course.
After 6
Inquiry Based
Labs
After 4
Traditional
Labs
Survey 1
Survey 2
(4) Strongly Agree 25 27
(3) Agree 10 4
(2) No Opinion 2 3
(1) Disagree
(0) Strongly Disagree
Total Responses 37 34
Weighted Average
91%
93%
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format

9. Survey Question 4
The instructions in the lab manual are vague and difficult to follow.
Survey 1
Survey 2
(4) Strongly Agree 1 2
(3) Agree 9 8
(2) No Opinion 7
(1) Disagree 17 16
(0) Strongly Disagree 3
Total Responses 37 34
Weighted Average
42%
47%
After 6
Inquiry Based
Labs
After 4
Traditional
Labs
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format

10. Survey Question 5
I find that working with a partner is very helpful in completing the lab experiments.
After 6
Inquiry Based
Labs
After 4
Traditional
Labs
Survey 1
Survey 2
(4) Strongly Agree 29 26
(3) Agree 6 8
(2) No Opinion 2
(1) Disagree
(0) Strongly Disagree
Total Responses 37 34
Weighted Average
93%
94%
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format

11. Survey Question 6
My lab partner and I often have the opportunity to improvise our own way of testing the theory.
Survey 1
Survey 2
(4) Strongly Agree 6
(3) Agree 4 13
(2) No Opinion 12 9
(1) Disagree 17
(0) Strongly Disagree
Total Responses 37 34
Weighted Average
36%
64%
After 6
Inquiry Based
Labs
After 4
Traditional
Labs
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format

12. Survey Question 7
My lab partner and I require a lot of assistance from the TA in order to complete the lab experiments.
Survey 1
Survey 2
(4) Strongly Agree 2
(3) Agree 7 3
(2) No Opinion 6 9
(1) Disagree 20 14
(0) Strongly Disagree 4
Total Responses 37 34
Weighted Average
36%
After 4
Traditional
Labs
After 6
Inquiry Based
Labs
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format

13. Survey Question 8
My lab partner and I often interact with other groups in the lab to come up with strategies to complete the experiments.
Survey 1
Survey 2
(4) Strongly Agree 3 4
(3) Agree 15 16
(2) No Opinion 5
(1) Disagree 11 8
(0) Strongly Disagree
Total Responses 37 34
Weighted Average
53%
57%
After 6
Inquiry Based
Labs
After 4
Traditional
Labs
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format

14. Survey Question 9
The equipment in the lab is always in good working order.
Survey 1
Survey 2
(4) Strongly Agree 8 9
(3) Agree 16 15
(2) No Opinion 6 3
(1) Disagree 7
(0) Strongly Disagree 1
Total Responses 37 34
Weighted Average
67%
68%
After 4
Traditional
Labs
After 6
Inquiry Based
Labs
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format

15. Survey Question 10
The equipment in the lab is complicated and very difficult to use.
Survey 1
Survey 2
(4) Strongly Agree
(3) Agree 5 1
(2) No Opinion 9
(1) Disagree 21
(0) Strongly Disagree 2 7
Total Responses 37 34
Weighted Average
36%
25%
After 4
Traditional
Labs
After 6
Inquiry Based
Labs
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format

16. Survey Question 11
The lab reports/worksheets for the experiments are clear and easy to complete.
Survey 1
Survey 2
(4) Strongly Agree 9
(3) Agree 16 14
(2) No Opinion 4 2
(1) Disagree 7 6
(0) Strongly Disagree 1
Total Responses 37 33
Weighted Average
67%
After 4
Traditional
Labs
After 6
Inquiry Based
Labs
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format

17. Survey Question 12
Too much emphasis is placed on having the “correct” data.
Survey 1
Survey 2
(4) Strongly Agree 4 3
(3) Agree 8
(2) No Opinion 7 9
(1) Disagree 14 11
(0) Strongly Disagree 6
Total Responses 37 33
Weighted Average
46%
40%
After 4
Traditional
Labs
After 6
Inquiry Based
Labs
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format

18. Lab Observations The observer will be looking for following things:
The number of times that a student or a group requests help from the TA.
The number of times that the TA spots a student or a group that is having difficulty and offers help.
The number of times that a student or a group appears confused about the procedure.
The number of times that a student or a group appears confused about the equipment.
The number of times that a student or a group tries an experiment that is not in the procedure.
The time for each group to complete the whole set of experiments.
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format

19. Lab Observations 321 Traditional Labs (2.5/student)
The number of times that a student or a group requested help from the TA, or the TA spotted a student or a group that was having difficulty and offered to help.
321 Traditional Labs (2.5/student)
244 Inquiry Based Labs (2.0/student)
(22)
(20)
Velocity of Sound 70
(21)
(22)
Geometrical Optics
Batteries, Bulbs, Current 66 65
Acceleration in One Dimension 60
(21)
(22)
Capacitors and RC Circuits 54
(22)
Rotating Fluid 51
Oscillatory Motion 47
(21)
(21)
Voltage and
Ohm’s Law 38
Magnetism 37
(20)
(20)
(20)
Physical
Optics 27
magnetism
Electro- 26
DC Circuits 24
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format

20. Lab Observations Fall 2016 Spring 2017
The number of times that a student or a group requested help from the TA, or the TA spotted a student or a group that was having difficulty and offered to help.
(21)
Acceleration in One Dimension 68
(22)
Acceleration in One Dimension 60
Fall
2016
Spring
2017
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format

21. Lab Observations – Spring 2017
The number of times that a student or a group requested help from the TA, or the TA spotted a student or a group that was having difficulty and offered to help.
(2) 13
Group 3
Acceleration in One Dimension
Average of 6.8 interactions per group 7
(3)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2) 8
Group 9 7
Group 1
Group 4 7
Group 5 7
Group 6 7
Group 8 7
(2)
(2)
Group 12 5
Group 2 4
(2)
Group 11 3
(0)
(0)
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format

22. Lab Observations Average number of minutes to complete the lab.
Rotating Fluid
172
137 min. Traditional Labs
115 min. Inquiry Based Labs
Batteries, Bulbs, Current
155
Velocity of Sound
152
Geometrical Optics
148
Oscillatory Motion
131
Capacitors and RC Circuits
Acceleration in One Dimension
129
127
DC Circuits
116
Voltage and
Ohm’s Law
105
magnetism
Electro- 97
Physical
Optics 93
Magnetism 85
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format

23. Lab Observations Time spread in minutes to complete the lab. 180 min.
63 min. Traditional Labs
36 min. Inquiry Based Labs
Time spread in minutes to complete the lab.
180 min.
Rotating Fluid
Oscillatory Motion
Acceleration in One Dimension
Velocity of Sound
Geometrical Optics
Batteries, Bulbs, Current
Capacitors and RC Circuits
DC Circuits
Voltage and
Ohm’s Law
Physical
Optics
magnetism
Electro-
Magnetism
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format

24. Lab Observations Time spread in minutes to complete the lab. Fall 2016
Acceleration in One Dimension
Acceleration in One Dimension
Fall
2016
127 minutes
Spring
2017
127 minutes
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format

25. TA Grading - Results Traditional labs ~ 2 hours/week
Lab reports graded by computer
Lab resets
Data verification
Participation grade
Inquiry based labs ~ 4 hours/week
Lab reports graded by TA
Includes pre-lab and homework
Rubric was provided
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format

26. Focus Group
The students will be asked to participate, voluntarily, in a focus group after the completion of the inquiry based labs.
The format will be open ended, but it will start with a discussion of what they found effective or ineffective in both the traditional and inquiry based labs.
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format

27. Focus Group - Results No one showed up.
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format

28. Course Transformation Award
Long Term Plans
PHYS 0212 – Laboratory Physics 1
1 Credit hour
Algebra and calculus based
Co-requisite PHYS 0110 or PHYS 0174
PHYS 0219 – Laboratory Physics 2
Co-requisite PHYS 0111 or PHYS 0175
Both courses will be inquiry based using the RealTime Physics manuals
The Course Transformation Award would then be a seed grant for an external agency such as NSF.
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format

29. Conclusion
Overview of current introductory physics labs at Pitt
Course Transformation Award - Plans
Course Transformation Award – Initial results
Long term plans
We would like to thank the dB-SERC for their support on this project!
Transition of Introductory Physics Labs to an Inquiry Based Format