Thinking like a physicist: A multi-semester case study of junior-level electricity and magnetism

Abstract

Physics faculty agree on many of the skills and habits of mind they expect physics students to acquire by the end of their degree, including mathematical sophistication, problem-solving expertise, and an ability to work independently and become expert learners. What is less clear is how these outcomes are best achieved within the context of upper-division courses. Focusing on one key course in the career of an undergraduate major—junior-level Electricity & Magnetism (E&M)—we have investigated this critical question over the course of 4 years and across multiple universities and instructors. With the aim of educating our majors based on a more complete understanding of the cognitive and conceptual challenges of upper-division courses, we transformed junior-level E&M using results and theory from education research. We present the process and content of the transformation and several measures of its success. Students and instructors enjoyed the new course materials. Students in courses using the new materials outperformed those in traditional lecture-based courses on a conceptual assessment and on some aspects of problem-solving, though not calculational skill. These results suggest that using student-centered methods at the upper-division can improve outcomes for many students.