Introductory Physics Lab Reform

Transforming introductory Physics laboratories

How do we center curiosity and creativity in the introductory Physics laboratory curriculum? Our group begin exploring such a curriculum starting in 2015, inspired by the Investigative Science Learning Environment (ISLE) and using the flexibility and ownership made possible by the iOLab system invented here at Illinois by Prof. Mats Selen.

Beginning in Physics 211, University Mechanics, we piloted and fully implemented our new curriculum, which pairs the development of practical skills and knowledge with student decision-making and innovation. Throughout the course of a semester, we see our students turn into adaptive experts that can take on new and unfamiliar problems in creative and productive ways. As of Spring 2022, we have expanded this Adaptive Expertise lab pedagogy to the first and second semester Algebra- and Calculus-based introductory courses, with a program that impacts 2000+ students, 80+ Learning Assistants, and 25+ Graduate Teaching Assistants every semester.

Read more about the iOLab
Read more about the Learning Assistant program

Timeline of introductory Physics lab reforms starting with alpha test in Physics 211 in Fall 2015 and continuing to full scale implementation with Learning Assistants by 2022. — Timeline of Introductory Physics Laboratory reforms

From this project...

Katie Ansell's PhD Dissertation, Cultivating Adaptive Expertise in the Introductory Physics Laboratory (2020)
PERC paper 1 (2016) https://www.per-central.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=14565
PERC paper 2 (2017) https://www.per-central.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=14188
PERC paper 3 (2023) Under Review.
Various talks and posters at AAPT

This work is supported by UIUC and the NSF