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Physical Review Physics Education Research
written by N. G. Holmes and H. J. Lewandowski
Physics lab instruction is evolving in response to changing technology, a desire to better prepare students for diverse careers, and renewed focus from physics education researchers. To prepare researchers to evaluate progress in instructional labs in the future, this study set out to understand the current state of instructional physics labs in North America. Using information collected from instructors intending to use two research-based lab assessments, we evaluate the reach, organization, goals, and pedagogies from over 200 unique instructional lab courses at over 100 institutions. We find significant diversity in all aspects evaluated, with some trends in course pedagogy based on course goals and level. Namely, courses that aim to reinforce concepts, develop lab skills, or do both incorporate varied levels of agency and modeling in their instruction, with differences in first year and beyond-first year courses. We hope these analyses will be useful for instructors to situate their own courses in the national landscape and for researchers to evaluate changes in lab instruction in the future.
Physical Review Physics Education Research: Volume 16, Issue 2, Pages 020162
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General Physics
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Access Rights:
Free access
License:
This material is released under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.
Rights Holder:
American Physical Society
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.16.020162
NSF Numbers:
PHY-1734006
DUE-1611482
Keywords:
Advanced Lab, experimental physics, physics lab, physics lab course
Record Creator:
Metadata instance created May 12, 2021 by Bruce Mason
Record Updated:
October 27, 2022 by Caroline Hall
Last Update
when Cataloged:
December 21, 2020
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AIP Format
N. Holmes and H. Lewandowski, , Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 16 (2), 020162 (2020), WWW Document, (https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.16.020162).
AJP/PRST-PER
N. Holmes and H. Lewandowski, Investigating the landscape of physics laboratory instruction across North America, Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 16 (2), 020162 (2020), <https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.16.020162>.
APA Format
Holmes, N., & Lewandowski, H. (2020, December 21). Investigating the landscape of physics laboratory instruction across North America. Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res., 16(2), 020162. Retrieved May 7, 2025, from https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.16.020162
Chicago Format
Holmes, Natasha G., and Heather J. Lewandowski. "Investigating the landscape of physics laboratory instruction across North America." Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 16, no. 2, (December 21, 2020): 020162, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.16.020162 (accessed 7 May 2025).
MLA Format
Holmes, Natasha G., and Heather J. Lewandowski. "Investigating the landscape of physics laboratory instruction across North America." Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 16.2 (2020): 020162. 7 May 2025 <https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.16.020162>.
BibTeX Export Format
@article{ Author = "Natasha G. Holmes and Heather J. Lewandowski", Title = {Investigating the landscape of physics laboratory instruction across North America}, Journal = {Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res.}, Volume = {16}, Number = {2}, Pages = {020162}, Month = {December}, Year = {2020} }
Refer Export Format

%A Natasha G. Holmes %A Heather J. Lewandowski %T Investigating the landscape of physics laboratory instruction across North America %J Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. %V 16 %N 2 %D December 21, 2020 %P 020162 %U https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.16.020162 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Journal Article %A Holmes, Natasha G. %A Lewandowski, Heather J. %D December 21, 2020 %T Investigating the landscape of physics laboratory instruction across North America %J Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. %V 16 %N 2 %P 020162 %8 December 21, 2020 %U https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.16.020162


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