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Three-dimensional learning (3DL) is an approach to science instruction that was developed for K-12 science education and that can provide guidance for improving undergraduate physics laboratories. In this paper, we describe efforts to comprehensively integrate 3DL into a sequence of undergraduate introductory physics for life sciences (IPLS) laboratory courses. This paper is tailored for introductory physics faculty interested in advancing their course's learning goals by simultaneously engaging students in experimental practices, scientific reasoning, and conceptual knowledge. We first review how several well-known laboratory curricula are already implicitly aligned with 3DL. We then describe our IPLS course sequence and show how each 3DL dimension—science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas, and crosscutting concepts—is integrated throughout the curriculum. To support implementation, we provide samples of our course documentation, a detailed account of our 3DL integration efforts, a guide to training and supporting teaching and learning assistants in a 3DL course, and a sample set of activities to guide students in participating in 3DL instruction in the supplementary material.
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Case study on how to develop 3D labs with theoretical, experimental, and computational goals
Overhauling a laboratory experiment, course, or curriculum is a daunting process. Here, I describe a four-step process our department used to overhaul our laboratory curriculum and courses. This four-step process includes: 1) identifying learning goals, 2) describing current practices, 3) making changes, and 4) planning for assessment. In addition, I describe how we updated experiments in the courses to be “3D”. These “3D” experiments are designed to meet three different types of goals: theoretical goals, experimental goals, and computational goals.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1653501
- PAR ID:
- 10082358
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- 2018 Conference on Laboratory Instruction Beyond the First Year of College
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
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