Workshops
Growing, Improving, and Feeling Proud: Tools and Strategies for Physics Classes and Research
Leader: Angie Little
Abstract: In physics classes and research, there aren’t always explicit opportunities to step back and reflect on the ways that we have improved and accomplished things. In this interactive workshop, we will: (1) Explore the idea of what it means to be proud of our work; (2) Develop a set of strategies to make current and future educational projects and activities better; (3) Examine a set of tools that have been designed to help us to track and see our improvement. We'll start first with identifying examples of proudness inside and outside of STEM: both our own examples and stories that I have collected from a diverse group of students. We'll talk in small groups about similarities and differences across these examples and distill strategies applicable to current and future educational projects and activities we're involved in. We will then discuss some of the related STEM education research literature.
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Angie Little enjoys thinking with people on how to make educational experiences better. Currently, Angie is a researcher at Michigan State University focusing on how students develop a sense that they are capable in physics. In addition, she is producing two podcasts on STEM education and is supporting Chicago State University's educational efforts to bring physics and chemistry majors into supported research experiences early on in college. Her work in STEM education builds on nearly ten years of experience.. As a physics graduate student at UC Berkeley in 2006, Angie co-founded The Compass Project, winner of the 2012 American Physical Society (APS) Award for Improving Undergraduate Education. Compass is an undergraduate and graduate-run program to support students, particularly from underrepresented backgrounds, to thrive in physics. Angie co-designed the program from the ground up, including a summer program, fall course on physics models and reflective practices, graduate student instructor professional development, and evaluation and research efforts. Angie received her M.A. in physics and an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in STEM Education from UC Berkeley. While at Berkeley, Angie also co-designed courses for pre-service teachers and first-time graduate student instructors in STEM. Angie's work spans local and national efforts: she has served on her tribe's (The Chinook Tribe) scholarship committee for 10 years; she has also served on the American Physical Society (APS) Forum on Education and will serve on the APS Committee on Minorities starting in 2015. Angie has a soup pot tattoo on her arm because she likes soup and getting people together to eat soup. She also identifies strongly as an Oregonian (her home state) and is still getting used to the midwest winter. Did you know that there's a piece of Oregon on the moon? |
Professional development workshop
