The Theatre Physics Learning Community Steven Zides - Physics Dept. Dr. Mark Ferguson - Theatre Dept. Wofford College

What is a Learning Community? “…curricular approaches that link classes, often around interdisciplinary themes, and enroll common groups of students for a [term]…a very intentional restructuring of time, space and student life.” (Gabelnick, MacGregor, Mathews, Smith, 1990)

Goals for our Freshmen Theatre literary analysis understanding the differences between the play and other types of fiction thematic and structural unity Physics scientific method historical development of scientific ideas science is a work in progress science is good at answering the “Hows” but not the “Whys”

Where is the Common Ground? Theatre of Physics/physics of theatre backstage construction and theatre technologies the morality of science orderly structure in a complex world

Inspiration for Theatre Physics Copenhagen (by Michael Frayn) “The Tony Award-winning play that soars at the intersection of science and art, Copenhagen is an explosive reimagining of the mysterious wartime meeting between two Nobel laureates to discuss the atomic bomb.” [back Cover summary of the play]

Course Layout Aristotle (Greek theatre and Science) The Scientific Revolution 19 th Century Science 20 th Century Science The Two Cultures

Assessment Strategies essays response papers discussions quizzes midterms concept maps writing science plays

Preliminary Successes very low absenteeism very high class participation great social interaction effective scheduling structure dual faculty perspective very compelling highly flexible structure makes change possible

Challenges and Difficulties extensive time commitment specialized space requirements constrained by local community good plays are hard to find appropriate science materials hard to find personnel must be compatible

Where Do We Go From Here? create better assessment tools reconsider how materials are distributed to the students consider commissioning a science play redesign the lab experience get NSF/NEH joint funding

The Theatre Physics Learning Community Steven Zides - Mark Ferguson -