February 21, 2020
at 2:30pm - February 22, 2020 at 4:00pm Central Time
Rockhurst University, Kansas City, MO
Description:
Do you want to increase enrollment in your physics program? Do you teach Interdisciplinary physics courses? Are you interested in finding resources for these courses? Are you interested in developing an interdisciplinary physics course or even a new interdisciplinary major/minor program and are unsure of where to start? Exploring the educational opportunities and intersections between physics and the life sciences can help. Come learn about Rockhurst University’s award-winning “Physics of Medicine” physics major track for pre-health majors. This workshop will give you the resources to do everything from integrating new activities into your existing classes, to creating entire physics major tracks for life science students. Experience for yourself this unique hands-on curriculum that focuses on deep conceptual understanding of physics as it applies to other sciences, medicine, and health care. This Physics of Medicine program is an interdisciplinary, pre-professional, physics major track designed for students that wish to attend clinical graduate school programs in medicine or healthcare. According to the 2016 Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System Report, Rockhurst (a relatively small liberal arts university) ranked first in the nation in awarding a second degree in physics to females and 7th nationally in awarding a second degree in physics overall due to student interest and enrollment in the Physics of Medicine Program. These results contributed to Rockhurst University receiving an APS award for Improving Undergraduate Physics Education in April of 2019.
The goals of this workshop are to:
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Provide inspiration and resources for faculty to adapt activities, make curricular changes, design interdisciplinary courses, and cultivate new physics major tracks at their institution.
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Familiarize participants with (a) specific curricular and lab examples of developments in physics for health science students, and (b) using the Living Physics Portal to share resources and collaborate with other physics educators.
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Discuss ways in which Rockhurst’s innovative Physics of Medicine program supports more diverse student populations in physics.
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Build local community connections between regional physics faculty dedicated to creating innovative interdisciplinary physics curricula.
Cost: $75 (scholarships available for instructors with financial need)
Parking: Parking is available for free in the Borgia lot (B), and parking passes are available for free as well.
Registration Deadline: February 13th, 2020
Organizing Team: Nancy Donaldson, Adrian Madsen, Chandra Turpen, Stephanie Williams
Workshop Agenda
Link to pdf of the handout version
Friday, February 21st : 2:00-9:00pm
2:00 pm – Registration & Sign-in Open
2:30 pm – Welcome & Opening Remarks
3:00 pm – Overview of the Physics of Medicine (PoM) Program, considering how to get started
- Learn about important features of the PoM program that support student success. Hear about curricular innovations in the introductory physics course that encourage students to take more physics.
4:30 pm – Break
4:45 pm – Q & A with a Panel of Physics of Medicine Students.
- Activity: Finding inspiration for your own change efforts
6:30 pm – Dinner
7:30 pm – Curriculum Swap
- Activity: In this session, educators will share and get feedback on classroom activity and hear about others’ innovative materials in groups of 3-5 people. Participants will explore shared materials through various lenses, including student engagement, interest for life scientists, and a range of potential learning outcomes.
Saturday, February 22nd: 8:30-4:30pm
8:30 am – Breakfast (+Sign-in open)
9:00 am – Experience the curriculum: Physics of the Respiratory System & Lung injuries/Disease
- Participants will be able to explore Rockhursts guided inquire modules that connect physics to how healthy and injured lungs function. Developers will explain the design logic behind the activities and share students'reactions.
10:45 am – Break (with coffee & tea)
10:45 am – Experience the curriculum: Physics of the Respiratory System: Physics of the Alveoli
- Participants will be able to explore Rockhurst's guided inquiry module that connects physics to how the alveoli in the lungs function in relation to health and disease. Developers will explain the design logic behind activities and share students' reactions.
12:00 pm – Lunch
1:30 pm – An incremental approach to pursuing comprehensive programmatic changes.
- Hear about how Dr. Donaldson navigated local constraints and opportunities in her change efforts at Rockhurst. Participants will be able to ask questions and get advice on how to navigate change in their local contexts.
2:15 pm – Break
2:30 pm – Setting Intentions for Instructional Changes
- Participants will synthesize what they learned from the workshop, then draft and refine a personal vision for their change efforts.
3:30 pm – Planning for local change efforts
- Participants will develop an action plan for pursuing change by identifying intermediate objectives, resources, and potential collaborators.
4:15 pm - Closing Remarks
Location
The workshop will take place at Rockhurst University St. Ignatius Science Center. The street address for Rockhurst University is 1100 Rockhurst Rd. Kansas City, MO 64110.
The St. Ignatius Science Center is building #22 on the Rockhurst University Campus Map.
Parking
More Information is available at Rockhurst University’s website: https://www.rockhurst.edu/campus-security/vehicle-registration-parking
Lodging
Please make travel arrangements and hotel reservations. Lodging options near Rockhurst University include:
Workshop Specific Deals
- Hampton Inn & Suites at Country Club Plaza
- (816) 448-4600
- 4600 Summit Kansas City, MO 64112
- Rockhurst rates were ~$139/night (until full)
- Standard rates were starting at ~$153/night
Other nearby lodging
- Courtyard by Marriott at Country Club Plaza
- (816) 285-9755
- 4600 JC Nichols Parkway Kansas City, MO 64112
- Standard rates were starting at ~$127/night
- **Shuttle available for getting to campus**
- 816 Hotel
- (816) 931-1000
- 801 Westport Rd, Kansas City, MO 64111
- Rates starting at ~$110/night
- Best Western Plus Seville Plaza Hotel
- (816) 561-9600
- 4309 Main St, Kansas City, MO 64111
- Rates were starting at ~$111/night
- Extended Stay America Kansas City
- (816) 531-2212
- 4535 Main St, Kansas City, MO 64111
- Rates starting at ~$70/night
- We also highly recommend trying out Airbnb.com to rent a room from a local resident. The rates are usually far cheaper than local hotels
UberX from MCI airport to the above hotels costs approximately $30. All lodging options listed above are about 5-10 minute drive to Rockhurst.
Rockhurst College is about 26 miles from the Kansas City International Airport (MCI), so hotels near the airport may also be convenient (about a 30-minute drive).
