Physics Education Project

3 EC

Semester 1 & 2, period 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

5354PHEP3Y

Owner Master Physics and Astronomy (joint degree)
Coordinator G.J. Kuik
Part of Master Physics and Astronomy, year 1

Course manual 2018/2019

Course content

A Physics Education Project (PEP) offers students the opportunity to learn something about teaching and didactics from a practical mindset. It is more than teaching tutorials or a laboratory course but it is possible to link a physics education project to a TA position.
A PEP should be linked to any physics (undergraduate) course offered at UvA, VU or AUC. In consultation with the coordinator and/or teaching staff of a particular course and the teaching staff of the PEP (David Fokkema, Jonas Veenstra and/or Gerrit Kuik) a project should be defined, which should (a) address needs of the course concerned and its teaching staff, and (b) contain a didactical research component. For some projects implementation could include some teaching (e.g. to try out educational materials developed), but this is not necessarily the case. Sometimes (particularly with laboratory courses) it will be convenient to become a teaching assistant, which makes it easier to test project outcomes in practice. Educational materials that are developed under projects must be tested with students, evaluated and revised.

At the start of the project it is the student's responsibility to define the project description. During the implementation of the project weekly meetings will be held with a PEP teaching staff member and with the courses teaching staff as needed.

Examples of PEPs can be found at http://www.nat.vu.nl/~gerritk/Files/PEP.html

Study materials

Literature

  • Leren (en) doceren in het hoger onderwijs by A.J. Kallenberg e.a., ISBN-13: 9789051894882 (will be made available)

Other

  • Background reading materials will be made available.

Objectives

To obtain insights in teaching and didactical aspects of physics concepts and/or physics laboratory experiments.

Teaching methods

  • Supervision/feedback meeting
  • Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis
  • Self-study

Coaching of students is offered through individual meetings on a weekly basis with a PEP teaching staff member and in addition upon request of the students. Meetings with course staff members will be scheduled as needed.

Learning activities

Activity

Hours

Self study and

work independently

Feedback meetings

60-150

 

24-38

Total

84-168

(3 or 6 EC x 28 uur)

Attendance

Requirements concerning attendance (OER-B).

  • In addition to, or instead of, classes in the form of lectures, the elements of the master’s examination programme often include a practical component as defined in article 1.2 of part A. The course catalogue contains information on the types of classes in each part of the programme. Attendance during practical components is mandatory.
  • Additional requirements for this course:

    None

    Assessment

    Item and weight Details

    Final grade

    100%

    Assessment is based on the educational materials developed and a final report with the reflection of the PEP.

    Fraud and plagiarism

    The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

    Course structure

    WeeknummerOnderwerpenStudiestof
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12
    13
    14
    15
    16
    17
    18
    19
    20
    21
    22
    23
    24
    25
    26
    27
    28
    29
    30
    31
    32
    33
    34
    35
    36
    37
    38
    39
    40

    Additional information

    The Physics Education Projects can be taken only from period 1 to 4.

    Contact information

    Coordinator

    • G.J. Kuik