Carolyn D. Sealfon

Physicist & Associate Director, Science Education

Council on Science and Technology

McGraw Center, Room 328E

Frist Campus Center

Princeton University

Princeton, NJ 08544

(609) 258-6448

Fax: (609) 258-1433

csealfon @ princeton . edu

v          Science and Engineering Education Initiative

v          Teaching Resources

v          Vita

webpage under construction

Princeton Science and Engineering Education Initiative:

This university-wide initiative aims to prepare all Princeton students, irrespective of their majors, to become scientifically and technologically literate citizens and decision-makers. Launched by the faculty on the Council on Science and Technology (CST), chaired by Bonnie Bassler, the initiative revises the Science and Technology (ST) distribution requirements, introduces new courses emphasizing the role of science in society, and focuses on assessing and raising the learning outcomes across ST courses through applying the science of learning to the learning of science. Catherine Riihimaki (an environmental scientist) and I (an astrophysicist) were brought on board as Princeton’s first two Associate Directors of Science Education to play leadership roles in shaping and implementing the initiative. We’re excited to welcome Jaclyn Schwalm (a molecular biologist) and Aatish Bhatia (a computational biophysicist) who will soon join our multi-disciplinary creative team and help realize the CST’s long-term vision.

A few initial accomplishments:

v Articulate target learning standards for all ST courses

v Provide additional resources for faculty teaching ST courses

v Administer pre and post surveys on attitudes towards science and basic numeracy skills to students enrolled in ST courses

v In collaboration with the McGraw Center, organize and inspire faculty discussions about teaching and the scholarship of teaching and learning

v Focus on signature courses for humanities and social science majors

· Define and articulate course, lecture, and lab learning goals

· Develop and implement research-based instructional materials/approaches to enhance learning outcomes

Catherine and I each co-teach, collaborate, or consult with two to four courses per semester. For example, in Fall 2012, I worked with PHY 115: Physics for Future Leaders and MOL 101: From DNA to Human Complexity. In Spring 2013, I worked with WWS 353: Science and Global Security and consulting with NEU 101: Neuroscience and Everyday Life, CEE 262B: Structures and the Urban Environment, and FRS 112: Light, Camera, Action.

Teaching Resources:

At Princeton:

McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning

Science/General:

A Short Primer on Scientific Teaching
Active Learning: Evidence-Based Methods & Examples
Course Design: an online tutorial on designing innovative and effective courses
Carl Wieman Science Education Initiative (at UBC)
SENCER: Science Education for New Civic Engagements and Responsibilities
Just-in-Time Teaching (and the JiTT digital library): meaningfully motivate students to read before class

Physics:

Online Repositories of Teaching Materials:

The National Science Digital Library
ComPADRE (Physics and Astronomy)
On the Cutting Edge (Geosciences)
ChemEd DL (Chemistry)
Teachable Tidbits (Biological Sciences)
Pre-Health iCollaborative
Technology and Engineering Curriculum Exchange
EnergyTeachers.org (energy production and use)
Connexions (all subjects)

Vita:

My passion for science education began in grade school. I pursued physics in college and theoretical cosmology for my Ph.D. Before coming to Princeton in mid-2011, I served as Assistant Professor of Physics at West Chester University.

| Council on Science and Technology | Princeton University |

Revised: 5/28/13