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Title: Bringing three-dimensional learning to undergraduate physics: Insight from an introductory physics laboratory course
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.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1938721
NSF-PAR ID:
10437262
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
American Journal of Physics
Volume:
90
Issue:
6
ISSN:
0002-9505
Page Range / eLocation ID:
452 to 461
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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