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.

For more details, read the full project abstract and the Auburn University press release.

Interested? Learn more about this work in recent publications

1. Robbins, Michael E and DiQuattro, Gabriel J and Burkholder, Eric W “Assessment of expert decisions in graduate quantum mechanics” Physical Review Physics Education Research , v.21 , 2025 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.21.010125
2. Robbins, Michael E and Davis, Nathan D and Burkholder, Eric W “Decision making in graduate physics coursework: What is being assessed versus what is expected” Physical Review Physics Education Research , v.21 , 2025 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.21.010148