the theatre physics learning community steven zides - physics dept. dr. mark ferguson - theatre...
TRANSCRIPT
The Theatre Physics
Learning Community
Steven Zides - Physics Dept.Dr. Mark Ferguson - Theatre Dept.
Wofford College
What is a Learning Community?
“…curricular approaches that link classes, often around interdisciplinary themes, and enroll common groups of students for a [term]…a very intentional restructuring of time, space and student life.”
(Gabelnick, MacGregor, Mathews, Smith, 1990)
Goals for our Freshmen
Theatre• literary analysis
• understanding the differences between the play and other types of fiction
• thematic and structural unity
Physics• scientific method• historical
development of scientific ideas
• science is a work in progress
• science is good at answering the “Hows” but not the “Whys”
Where is the Common Ground?
• Theatre of Physics/physics of theatre• backstage construction and theatre
technologies• the morality of science • orderly structure in a complex world
Inspiration for Theatre Physics
Copenhagen (by Michael Frayn)
“The Tony Award-winning play that soars at the intersection of science
and art, Copenhagen is an explosive reimagining of the mysterious
wartime meeting between two Nobel laureates to discuss the atomic
bomb.”[back Cover summary of the play]
Course Layout
Aristotle (Greek theatre and Science)
The Scientific Revolution
19th Century Science
20th Century Science
The Two Cultures
Assessment Strategies
• essays• response papers• discussions• quizzes• midterms• concept maps• writing science plays
Preliminary Successes
• very low absenteeism• very high class participation• great social interaction • effective scheduling structure• dual faculty perspective very
compelling• highly flexible structure makes
change possible
Challenges and Difficulties
• extensive time commitment• specialized space requirements• constrained by local community• good plays are hard to find• appropriate science materials hard to
find• personnel must be compatible
Where Do We Go From Here?
• create better assessment tools• reconsider how materials are
distributed to the students• consider commissioning a science
play• redesign the lab experience• get NSF/NEH joint funding
The Theatre Physics
Learning CommunitySteven Zides - [email protected]
Mark Ferguson - [email protected]