Assessing and Improving Real-World Problem-solving Skills in Graduate Physics Coursework

“Teaching physics is often far removed from doing physics. We seek to bridge this gap and ensure that our students are not just learning physics but are learning how to think and act like physicists.” – Eric Burkholder

This project will develop and validate assessments of real-world problem solving suitable for graduate physics coursework and use htose assessments as a basis for program evaluation and teaching innovations. The work will modernize physics graduate education by bringing the canonical set of physics content knowledge into the real-world. It will also contribute to literature on effective, research-based teaching graduate STEM programs.

This project will bring together practicing physicists to collaboratively

1. Define skills-focused learning outcomes for graduate physics programs,
2. Develop and validate assessments of those problem-solving skills,
3. Redesign graduate coursework to improve students’ training in problem-solving skills.

• Read the full project abstract
• Read the Auburn University press release