A CURE (Course-Based Undergraduate Research) for Advanced Physics Lab

• Kristin Rabosky ^[1] ; John Armstrong ^[1] ; Adam Johnston ^[1]
  1. [1] Weber State University

     Weber State University

     Estados Unidos

     
• Localización: The Physics Teacher, ISSN 0031-921X, Vol. 63, Nº. 1, 2025, págs. 53-55
• Idioma: inglés
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo
• Resumen

  • Fields such as biology and chemistry have shown the value of bringing undergraduate research into the classroom.1 Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) engage students through the exploration and discovery process while allowing faculty to provide authentic research experiences to a larger number of students. Currently, in physics and astronomy there are only a few examples of CUREs from introductory courses.2,3 In a CURE, given its exploratory nature, students learn from their mistakes, taking ownership of the work while developing scientific writing and collaboration skills.2–4 Historically, physics courses promote students with a perceived “scientific talent.” This perceived expectation has been shown to keep women from fields like physics,5 and the exploratory nature of CUREs could provide opportunities for all students to excel. Another benefit from CUREs is that they are skills-based courses. Students interviewed after this type of course show more expert-like responses than either a concept-focused or both skills and concept-focused course.6 CUREs are set up to more closely mimic traditional research, as research experiences in general are key to developing a scientific identity as a physicist,7 and students who participate in research are more likely to pursue a STEM career or go to graduate school.8 At our university, we take pride in providing research opportunities for students outside of the classroom, and we redesigned our Advanced Physics Lab to bring this experience to more students.