University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
Phone: (519) 888-4567 ext 32215
Fax: (519) 746-8115
Dr. Karen Cummings is an Associate Professor of Physics at Southern Connecticut State University. She received her Ph.D. from the University at Albany, State University of New York. Since graduating she has focused most of her research efforts on the learning and teaching of physics including the effective use of technology, development of problem solving ability in introductory students, and development of curricular materials for use in modern learning environments. Dr. Cummings is coauthor of Understanding Physics, a text designed to work with interactive learning strategies.
In late 2008 the U.S. National Academy of Sciences held a series of two workshops in which they gathered evidence of improved learning outcomes in college level science courses. The goal was to try to determine if there was evidence of practices that succeed across a range of institutions and in the hands of educators other than the developers. Workshop findings were later summarized in a book published by the National Academy entitled “Promising Practices in STEM Education”. In this presentation I will reflect on my participation in these workshops and summarize the consensus findings. In addition, I will provide several concrete and practical suggestions of how these “best practices” can be implemented in lecture and laboratory settings.
This presentation will be followed by a short workshop in which participants can engage in one or more activities aimed at helping students reflect on the nature of science and the scientific process.
Talk: 9:00 am - 10:15 am
Workshop: 10:45 am - 11:30 am
Coffee & Pastries: 8:30 am
All are welcome to attend. Please RSVP (Talk, Workshop, or both) by December 9, 2016.
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is centralized within our Office of Indigenous Relations.