Robert Carlton

carltonr@mtsu.edu

Robert Carlton

Physics and Astronomy

Smart Classroom

AMG 121

N/A

N/A

Approximately 400 students per year take the Physics Problems Laboratory I course. This course is taught using a pedagogy that places high value on collaborative learning and makes extensive use of computers and AV presentation technology. This course is currently taught in AMG 121, a 1900ft2 space that supports two functional areas—experimentation and computer-guided collaborative learning. In addition to a number of inquiry-based experimental investigations, the course calls for two group research projects to be performed outside of classroom time, after which group presentations are made to the class. All of this calls for a master classroom setting for maximum effectiveness. We schedule 32 students per section because we have found this to be the optimum number we can teach with this pedagogy, with students working in groups of four. This requires two sets of tables due to the two very different functions. We have also learned that there should be chairs in each of the two functional areas. If funding is not available for the entire request, our high priority preference would be the standard master classroom portion.