Colorado LA Pedagogy Course

These lessons are aligned with the University of Colorado Boulder's exemplary LA Pedagogy course. There is at least one lesson associated with most course topics. These lessons were created with support from the Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PhysTEC).
Getting Started Pedagogy Course Sample Syllabus Our suggesions for topics and Periscope lessons for your LA or TA Pedagogy Course Sample Syllabus Expert Advice Best practices for facilitating Periscope lessons Read the Periscope Facilitator's Guide to learn proven methods for running a great lesson Facilitator's Guide
These lessons were created with support from the Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PhysTEC).
22 Lessons

Classroom discourse

Ep. 101: Depth University of Maryland
How can I bring out students' ideas? Attending to student ideas Pressure Instructor Interaction ✓ STEM-wide audiences ✓
Ep. 107: Torture University of Maryland
What instructor behaviors are frustrating for students? Coping with frustration Kinematics Instructor Interaction ✓ STEM-wide audiences ✓

Questioning strategies

Ep. 110: Tension University of Maryland
What is the effect of different kinds of instructor questions? Questioning strategies Newton's laws Instructor Interaction ✓ STEM-wide audiences ✓
Ep. 303: Zero mass Seattle Pacific University
How can I show students that I expect explanations? Not giving the answer, Questioning strategies Newton's laws Instructor Interaction ✓ STEM-wide audiences ✓

Mental models

Ep. 103: Jump up University of Maryland
What ideas do students have about charge transfer? Attending to student ideas Electrostatics
Ep. 104: Quilted University of Maryland
What ideas do students have about electronegativity? Attending to student ideas Electrostatics

Metacognition

Ep. 109: Scratched University of Maryland
How can I encourage productive student debate? Facilitating collaboration Newton's laws Instructor Interaction ✓ STEM-wide audiences ✓
Ep. 108: Hello University of Maryland
Do students have the right to be told whether they are correct? Not giving the answer, Coping with frustration Energy Instructor Interaction ✓ STEM-wide audiences ✓

Student conceptions

Ep. 106: Potholes University of Maryland
What ideas do students have about mechanical energy? Attending to student ideas Energy
Ep. 302: Equal weights Seattle Pacific University
What ideas do students have about tension and balancing? Attending to student ideas Newton's laws Instructor Interaction ✓

Cooperative learning

Ep. 102: Soft bed University of Maryland
What do students do to make it safe to share their ideas? Facilitating collaboration Pressure STEM-wide audiences ✓
Ep. 202: Newton University of Colorado Boulder
What if one student in a group has done the activity before? Facilitating collaboration Newton's laws, Rotation STEM-wide audiences ✓

Formative assessment

Ep. 310: Physicsy brains Seattle Pacific University
How can I tailor a task to a specific group of students? Tailoring instruction Newton's laws Instructor Interaction ✓ STEM-wide audiences ✓

Motivation

Ep. 107: Torture University of Maryland
What instructor behaviors are frustrating for students? Coping with frustration Kinematics Instructor Interaction ✓ STEM-wide audiences ✓

Student conceptual resources

Ep. 105: Kite University of Maryland
What ideas do students have about forces and fields? Attending to student ideas Newton's laws, Electrostatics
Ep. 502: Moving box Florida International University
What ideas do students have about static and kinetic friction? Attending to student ideas Newton's laws Instructor Interaction ✓

Implicit bias

Ep. 109: Scratched University of Maryland
How can instructors avoid reinforcing social stereotypes? Promoting equity Newton's laws Instructor Interaction ✓ STEM-wide audiences ✓
Ep. 307: If you disagree Seattle Pacific University
What are some of the gender dynamics that occur in science classes? Promoting equity Newton's laws STEM-wide audiences ✓

Diversity and equity

Ep. 501: Keep arguing Florida International University
How can I assess group work in a way that is equitable? Promoting equity Instructor Interaction ✓ STEM-wide audiences ✓
Ep. 501: Keep arguing Florida International University
How does the culture of a community show up in a physics class? Promoting equity Instructor Interaction ✓ STEM-wide audiences ✓

Fixed and growth mindset

Ep. 501: Keep arguing Florida International University
Why might students not want to argue in class? Coping with frustration Instructor Interaction ✓ STEM-wide audiences ✓

Instructional values

Ep. 311: Still love us Seattle Pacific University
How can I show care for my students? Relating to students Newton's laws Instructor Interaction ✓ STEM-wide audiences ✓