Benjamin Pollard
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View article: Investigating changes in student views of measurement uncertainty in an introductory physics lab course using clustering algorithms
Investigating changes in student views of measurement uncertainty in an introductory physics lab course using clustering algorithms Open
Understanding measurement uncertainty is crucial in experimental physics, as it enables accurate and reliable measurements, facilitates comparison between measurements, and aids in designing experiments. Consequently, measurement uncertain…
View article: Survey of physics reasoning on uncertainty concepts in experiments: An assessment of measurement uncertainty for introductory physics labs
Survey of physics reasoning on uncertainty concepts in experiments: An assessment of measurement uncertainty for introductory physics labs Open
[This paper is part of the Focused Collection on Instructional labs: Improving traditions and new directions.] Measurement uncertainty is a critical feature of experimental research in the physical sciences, and the concepts and practices …
View article: Professional contexts of physics instructional labs: More than technical support
Professional contexts of physics instructional labs: More than technical support Open
[This paper is part of the Focused Collection on Instructional labs: Improving traditions and new directions.] Most, if not all, physics undergraduate degree programs include instructional lab experiences. Physics lab instructors, both fac…
View article: More than technical support: the professional contexts of physics instructional labs
More than technical support: the professional contexts of physics instructional labs Open
Most, if not all, physics undergraduate degree programs include instructional lab experiences. Physics lab instructors, both faculty and staff, are instrumental to student learning in instructional physics labs. However, the faculty-staff …
View article: Survey of physics reasoning on uncertainty concepts in experiments: an assessment of measurement uncertainty for introductory physics labs
Survey of physics reasoning on uncertainty concepts in experiments: an assessment of measurement uncertainty for introductory physics labs Open
Measurement uncertainty is a critical feature of experimental research in the physical sciences, and the concepts and practices surrounding measurement uncertainty are important components of physics lab courses. However, there has not bee…
View article: Classification of open-ended responses to a research-based assessment using natural language processing
Classification of open-ended responses to a research-based assessment using natural language processing Open
Surveys have long been used in physics education research to understand student reasoning and inform course improvements. However, to make analysis of large sets of responses practical, most surveys use a closed-response format with a smal…
View article: Introductory physics lab instructors’ perspectives on measurement uncertainty
Introductory physics lab instructors’ perspectives on measurement uncertainty Open
Introductory physics lab courses serve as the starting point for students to learn and experience experimental physics at the undergraduate level. They often focus on measurement uncertainty, an essential topic for practicing physicists an…
View article: Impact of a course transformation on students’ reasoning about measurement uncertainty
Impact of a course transformation on students’ reasoning about measurement uncertainty Open
Physics lab courses are integral parts of an undergraduate physics education,\nand offer a variety of opportunities for learning. Many of these opportunities\ncenter around a common learning goal in introductory physics lab courses:\nmeasu…
View article: Capturing modeling pathways using the Modeling Assessment for Physics Laboratory Experiments
Capturing modeling pathways using the Modeling Assessment for Physics Laboratory Experiments Open
A choose-your-own-adventure online assessment has been developed to measure the process of modeling undertaken by students when asked to measure the Earth’s gravitational constant, g, using a simple pendulum. This activity forms part of th…
View article: Impact on students' views of experimental physics from a large introductory physics lab course
Impact on students' views of experimental physics from a large introductory physics lab course Open
Introductory physics lab courses aim to have students gain a wide variety of skills and knowledge, including developing views of the nature of experimental physics that are aligned with common expert views. The large introductory lab cours…
View article: Views from students and professors in a nonmajor introductory physics course: What is interdisciplinarity?
Views from students and professors in a nonmajor introductory physics course: What is interdisciplinarity? Open
We present an investigation into the interdisciplinary role of physics in a physics-for-nonphysicists course at Pomona College. This work is guided by prior research into introductory physics for life science (IPLS) courses, but attends to…
View article: Creating a coupled multiple response assessment for modeling in lab courses
Creating a coupled multiple response assessment for modeling in lab courses Open
Research-based assessment instruments (RBAIs) are essential tools to measure aspects of student learning and improve pedagogical practice. RBAIs are designed to measure constructs related to a well-defined learning goal. However, relativel…
View article: Views from students and professors in a nonmajor introductory physics course: What is interdisciplinarity?
Views from students and professors in a nonmajor introductory physics course: What is interdisciplinarity? Open
We present an investigation into the interdisciplinary role of physics in a physics-for-nonphysicists course at Pomona College. This work is guided by prior research into introductory physics for life science (IPLS) courses, but attends to…
View article: Using custom interactive video prelab activities in a large introductory lab course
Using custom interactive video prelab activities in a large introductory lab course Open
The large introductory physics lab course at the University of Colorado Boulder, which serves primarily engineering and physical science majors, was recently completely redesigned to align with new explicit learning goals. One of the learn…
View article: Methodological development of a new coding scheme for an established assessment on measurement uncertainty in laboratory courses
Methodological development of a new coding scheme for an established assessment on measurement uncertainty in laboratory courses Open
Student understanding around measurement uncertainty is an important learning outcome in physics lab courses across the US, including at the University of Coloroado Boulder (CU), where it is among the major learning outcomes for the large …
View article: Using think-aloud interviews to characterize model-based reasoning in electronics for a laboratory course assessment
Using think-aloud interviews to characterize model-based reasoning in electronics for a laboratory course assessment Open
Models of physical systems are used to explain and predict experimental\nresults and observations. The Modeling Framework for Experimental Physics\ndescribes the process by which physicists revise their models to account for\nthe newly acq…
View article: Imaging Carrier Inhomogeneities in Ambipolar Tellurene Field Effect Transistors
Imaging Carrier Inhomogeneities in Ambipolar Tellurene Field Effect Transistors Open
The development of van der Waals (vdW) homojunction devices requires materials with narrow bandgaps and simultaneously high hole and electron mobilities for bipolar transport, as well as methods to image and study spatial variations in car…
View article: Pathways to proposing causes for unexpected experimental results
Pathways to proposing causes for unexpected experimental results Open
Models of physical systems are used to explain and predict experimental\nresults and observations. When students encounter discrepancies between the\nactual and expected behavior of a system, they revise their models to include\nthe newly …
View article: Transforming a large introductory lab course: impacts on views about experimental physics
Transforming a large introductory lab course: impacts on views about experimental physics Open
Laboratory courses are key components of most undergraduate physics programs. Lab courses often aim to achieve the following learning outcomes: developing students' experimental skills, engaging students in authentic scientific practices, …
View article: Initial impacts of the transformation of a large introductory lab course focused on developing experimental skills and expert epistemology
Initial impacts of the transformation of a large introductory lab course focused on developing experimental skills and expert epistemology Open
Recently, there has been increased attention to improving laboratory\ninstruction at all levels. At the introductory level, research results have\nshown differing levels of success based on the nature of the desired learning\noutcomes. In …
View article: Nanoimaging and Control of Molecular Vibrations through Electromagnetically Induced Scattering Reaching the Strong Coupling Regime
Nanoimaging and Control of Molecular Vibrations through Electromagnetically Induced Scattering Reaching the Strong Coupling Regime Open
Optical resonators can enhance light-matter interaction, modify intrinsic molecular properties such as radiative emission rates, and create new molecule-photon hybrid quantum states. To date, corresponding implementations are based on elec…
View article: Initial impacts of the transformation of a large introductory lab course focused on developing experimental skills and expert epistemology
Initial impacts of the transformation of a large introductory lab course focused on developing experimental skills and expert epistemology Open
Recently, there has been increased attention to improving laboratory instruction at all levels. At the introductory level, research results have shown differing levels of success based on the nature of the desired learning outcomes. In res…
View article: Impact of an introductory lab course on students� understanding of measurement uncertainty
Impact of an introductory lab course on students� understanding of measurement uncertainty Open
Physics lab courses are an essential part of the physics undergraduate curriculum. Learning goals for these classes often include the ability to interpret measurements and uncertainties. The Physics Measurement Questionnaire (PMQ) is an es…
View article: Student reasoning about measurement uncertainty in an introductory lab course
Student reasoning about measurement uncertainty in an introductory lab course Open
Proficiency with calculating, reporting, and understanding measurement uncertainty is a nationally recognized learning outcome for undergraduate physics lab courses. The Physics Measurement Questionnaire (PMQ) is a research-based assessmen…
View article: Instructor perspectives on modeling in upper-division optics labs
Instructor perspectives on modeling in upper-division optics labs Open
The ability to develop, use, and refine models of experimental systems is a nationally recognized learning outcome for undergraduate physics lab courses. However, no assessments of students' model-based reasoning exist for upper-division l…
View article: Infrared vibrational nanocrystallography and nanoimaging
Infrared vibrational nanocrystallography and nanoimaging Open
Nanoscale spectroscopy and imaging of organic materials reveal heterogeneity in molecular orientation in crystalline domains.
View article: Correlative infrared nanospectroscopic and nanomechanical imaging of block copolymer microdomains
Correlative infrared nanospectroscopic and nanomechanical imaging of block copolymer microdomains Open
Intermolecular interactions and nanoscale phase separation govern the properties of many molecular soft-matter systems. Here, we combine infrared vibrational scattering scanning near-field optical microscopy (IR s -SNOM) with force–distanc…
View article: Studying Expert Practices to Create Learning Goals for Electronics Labs
Studying Expert Practices to Create Learning Goals for Electronics Labs Open
Laboratory courses for upper-division undergraduates often involve sophisticated equipment, relatively small class sizes, and extended hands-on projects. These courses present distinct challenges and opportunities for the physics education…
View article: Infrared Vibrational Molecular Hybridization with a Single Optical Antenna
Infrared Vibrational Molecular Hybridization with a Single Optical Antenna Open
We observe impedance matched coupling between molecular vibrations and infrared optical antennas. Broadband synchrotron near-field spectroscopy reveals antenna-vibration hybridization, mode splitting, and tip excitation of coupled dark pla…