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Chautauqua on Active Learning in Hawaii, June 11-13, 1998



NSF-SPONSORED CHAUTAUQUA SHORT COURSE "PROMOTING ACTIVE LEARNING IN
INTRODUCTORY PHYSICS COURSES," JUNE 11-13, 1998, HONOLULU, HAWAII

There are still spaces in our Chautauqua Short Course scheduled at
Kapi'olani Community College in Honolulu, HI June 11-13, 1998.

I have also just checked the airfares from the West Coast (LAX, SFO, PDX,
SEA) to Hawaii that time of year, and they are a fairly reasonable $450-485
(including the special 10% discount United and Delta are offering for 60
day advanced purchases for this course--see below). We have also arranged
inexpensive dorm accommodations and flexible morning/evening schedule,
leaving afternoons free.

This is an excellent opportunity to experience innovative, physics
education research-based approaches to active learning using
microcomputer-based (MBL) tools in a tropical environment. A description
of the course follows. If you would like to receive more information and
an application, please send a reply to this e-mail.

David Sokoloff, University of Oregon
Priscilla Laws, Dickinson College
Ron Thornton, Tufts University

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Widespread physics education research has shown that a
majority of students have difficulty learning essential physical concepts
even in the best of our traditional courses. This Chautauqua course is
designed for those interested in making major changes in introductory
physics courses or in other introductory science courses. The focus will be
on giving participants direct experience with methods for promoting active
student involvement in the learning process through activity-based physics
strategies.

Participants will explore activities from several successful new curricula
which share common goals and techniques, all of which are based on the
outcomes of physics education research and the comprehensive use of
microcomputers. These include Workshop Physics, Tools for Scientific
Thinking and RealTime Physics. (The microcomputer-based tools used are
available for Macintosh, Windows and MS-DOS computers.) Samples of
curricula will be given out. Adaptation of curricular materials to a range
of institutional settings including small colleges and large universities
will be discussed. While the emphasis will be on activity-based learning
in laboratory or workshop environments, strategies for better integration
of lecture and laboratory sessions by means of Interactive Lecture
Demonstrations (ILDs) will also be discussed.

Effective methods for evaluation of conceptual learning will also be
explored. Studies have demonstrated substantial long-term learning gains
of physics concepts by students who have used these curricular materials
..
The focus of this course will be on first semester topics: mechanics, heat
and thermodynamics. Use of computers will include data collection and
analysis with microcomputer-based laboratory (MBL) tools, basic
mathematical modeling using MBL software and spreadsheets, and basic
interactive video analysis.

As with all NSF-sponsored Chautauqua courses, there is a small application
fee ($40), but no tuition. Participants or their institutions pay the
cost of lodging, meals and travel. Chautauqua courses are open to teachers
of undergraduate students in degree-granting institutions of higher
education in the U.S. This includes two-year and four-year colleges and
universities. U.S. high school teachers and faculty from outside the U.S.
are also admitted if space is available.

Kapi'olani Community College is on the island of Oahu, at the foot of
Diamond Head, near Waikiki.

SPECIAL REASONABLY PRICED ACCOMMODATIONS: Blocks of rooms have been
reserved at the University of Hawaii East-West Center [dorm (two beds)
$33/night, studio (double bed) $42/night and apartments (double bed)
$53/night--rooms held until beginning of March] and at the Queen Kapi'olani
Hotel ($74/night plus tax for two adults and up to two children under age
17--rooms held until May 11).

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING: Afternoons will be free. The course will run 8:30 AM
to 12:30 PM on Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings, with additional
sessions 6:30 - 10:00 PM on Thursday and Friday evenings.

SPECIAL CHAUTAUQUA PROGRAM AIRFARE DISCOUNTS: Special discounts have been
arranged for air transportation. On Delta and United there is 5% off of
any published airfare and 10% off unrestricted fares. For tickets
purchased 60 days in advance, there is a 10% saving on any published
airfare. For Delta, call (800) 241-6760 and refer to file number 108903A,
Group: Chautauqua. For United call (800) 521-4041 and refer to meeting ID
Number 518YY, Name: Chautauqua. Tickets may be purchased directly or
through your travel agent.


For more information and an application, contact:
David Sokoloff
Department of Physics
1274 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-1274
Phone: (541) 346-4755
Fax: (541) 346-5861
E-MAIL: sokoloff@oregon.uoregon.edu




David R. Sokoloff
Associate Professor and Associate Head
Department of Physics
1274 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-1274

sokoloff@oregon.uoregon.edu

phone: (541) 346-4755
fax: (541) 346-5861