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Greater Chicagoland 2026 Distributed Institute for Computational Education (DICE) in Physics

October 17, 2026 from 8:30AM-4:00PM CDT
Lewis University

Location

  • Lewis University, James A. LaGrippe Pastoral Center, D’Arcy Great Room
  • Address: One University Parkway, Romeoville, IL 60446
  • Parking: Visitor Lot D off University Drive North
  • Coordinates: 41°36'24.95"N 88°04'49.27"W; 41.606927, -88.080348

                     

Who Should Attend

Any physics educators from around the Chicagoland area (or anywhere else if you're willing to travel!) that want to energize their physics courses! The scope of this workshop is appropriate for physics teachers from high schools, 2-year colleges, and 4-year colleges and universities. 

The workshop will include demonstrations and discussions about various aspects of integrating computational activities into physics courses at all levels from introductory to advanced. There will also be guided working time wherein participants will explore tested exercises, and will build an outline that will serve as the beginning of a plan for integrating computational activities into their specific courses. Finally, by participating in this workshop participants will become plugged into a growing and supportive community of like-minded physics educators dedicated to improving the physics curriculum. The support system includes a repository of developed computational materials as well as dedicated online and personal community support.

NOTE: This is the 5th annual convening of the Chicagoland workshop. If you have attended any of the previous workshops, you are absolutely welcome and encouraged to return. In addition to the introductory topics, intended for faculty who have little or no experience integrating computational activities into their physics courses or for prior attendees who would like refreshers, there will be concurrent sessions with advanced and other topics of computational and pedagogical interest.

Registration

Registration is now open through Saturday, October 17 (walk-ins welcome on the day of the event).

Hit that big green button below or use the QR code to register!

Registration fee: $20

Registration includes lunch!

Begin Registration Here

Poster Session

If you have experience in integrating computational activities into your undergraduate or high school physics courses, and would like to display and discuss your work in this area, there will be a formal poster session during the day on Saturday. Please consider bringing a poster detailing your computational pedagogical efforts.

Workshop Schedule

Schedule for Saturday, October 17

8:30-9:15 Arrival and Registration – D’Arcy Great Room

9:15-9:30 Welcome, Introductions, and Workshop Goals

9:30-10:45 PICUP Exercise Sets and Agentic AI Synthesis with an LMS

10:45-11:00 Break

11:00-12:00 QuarkNet Presentation

12:00-12:15 Workshop Photo

12:15-1:30 Lunch

1:30-2:20 Student Panel

2:20-3:10 Spreadsheets: An effective, yet under-utilized computational tool

3:10-3:50 Computational Topics in High School/Undergraduate Physics

3:50-4:00 Wrap Up

4:00 Keynote Speaker (Optional)

Questions/Need help?

If you have any questions, or would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact one of the workshop coordinators:

Ryan Hooper, Department of Physics, Lewis University hooperry@lewisu.edu

Joseph Kozminski, Department of Physics, Lewis University kozminjo@lewisu.edu

Kelly Roos, Department of Finance and Quantitative Methods, Bradley University rooster@bradley.edu

Anthony Escuadro, Physical Science Department, Harold Washington College aescuadro@ccc.edu

Andrew Morrison, Department of Natural Sciences, Joliet Junior College amorriso@jjc.edu

Raymond Zich, Department of Physics, Illinois State University, rlzich@gmail.com