Chapter 4 Changing Instruction: 2016–2017
¶The faculty had unanimously approved the proposed changes in the Paradigms in Physics courses in June, 2016. These changes included eliminating the modern physics course, the second quarter of the electronics course, and the mathematical methods and classical mechanics capstone courses, reconfiguring the junior-year paradigms in physics courses from 9 three-week courses into 6 five-week courses, realigning the computational courses with the revised junior-level paradigms in physics courses, embedding mathematics instruction within all of the junior-level paradigms courses, and developing two new sophomore courses to bridge between the introductory physics courses and the paradigms in physics courses. Still needing discussion and possible revision were the remaining senior level capstone courses as well as possible development of an advanced laboratory course and specialty courses. Faculty involved in implementing the new plan offered the following advice for others implementing similar curricular reforms.