The Evolution of Assessment within an Introductory Physics Course
Authors: Larkin Teresa L 
Published: February 2013

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves /> <w:TrackFormatting /> <w:PunctuationKerning /> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas /> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF /> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables /> <w:SnapToGridInCell /> <w:WrapTextWithPunct /> <w:UseAsianBreakRules /> <w:DontGrowAutofit /> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark /> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning /> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents /> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps /> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math" /> <m:brkBin m:val="before" /> <m:brkBinSub m:val="&#45;-" /> <m:smallFrac m:val="off" /> <m:dispDef /> <m:lMargin m:val="0" /> <m:rMargin m:val="0" /> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup" /> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440" /> <m:intLim m:val="subSup" /> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr" /> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <p class="Abstract">This paper provides an overview of the evolution of an introductory physics course for non-majors entitled Physics for a New Millennium (PNM) at American University.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Following a brief summary of the research and pedagogical framework for the course design, a summary of the course curriculum will be presented. A significant portion of the course curriculum provides students with an opportunity to experience all aspects of preparing, writing, and presenting a professional research paper in a conference setting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Following a description of the course curriculum, the specific structure for the conference paper activity will be outlined and highlights of student work will be shared with a focus on the spring 2012 class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The conference paper activity is assessed using authentic, formative strategies and will serve as one focus of this paper. To address the authentic assessment piece, a collection of strategies and methods will be shared that have been designed to key in on what and how students are learning throughout all phases of the paper writing process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>These methods can be used as an alternative, or as a supplement to more traditional pencil and paper examinations, quizzes, and homework assignments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The thrust of the authentic assessment is to address any deficiencies in student learning while the learning is taking place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Exams and quizzes end up being &ldquo;too little, too late&rdquo; in terms of helping students correct any flaws in their understanding. 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