Areas of Interest
My research focuses on the transformation of the physics curriculum to reflect current issues, concepts, and practices in contemporary physics. This process couples analysis of the intellectual structure of the discipline, research on students' reasoning and understanding of physical principles, and development of new courses and new pedagogical tools and approaches. Three foci of this research and development program are:
Modeling physical systems: Many traditional physics courses emphasize manipulating formulas and solving idealized, sanitized textbook problems, which do not give students experience in the process of modeling complex physical systems, an activity lying at the heart of physics. A primary research focus is on the development of curricula in which students engage in modeling activities similar to those of practicing scientists. Central to such activities is the development of a deep qualitative understanding of fundamental physical principles, and the development of skill in identifying assumptions, making approximations, and simplifying and idealizing complex situations.
Computational science and scientific visualization: Computer modeling and computer visualization have become central to both experimental and theoretical research in physics and other sciences. An ongoing research project explores the impact of introducing these tools into undergraduate physics instruction.
Integration of modern concepts : Modern concepts including quantum mechanics and relativity are central to the way practicing scientists view the world. These ideas can and should be integrated into physics courses at every level, instead of being reserved for specialized upper level courses.
One product of this research agenda is the new, modern introductory physics textbook Matter & Interactions, written with Bruce Sherwood. Another is the 3D programming enviroment VPython.
Recent Publications
"Restructuring the Introductory electricity and magnetism course,"
American Journal of Physics
74.
R. Chabay & B. Sherwood.
(2006). p. 329-336.
"Evaluating an assessment tool: Brief electricity & magnetism assessment.,"
Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res.
1.
L. Ding, R. Chabay, B. Sherwood, & R. Beichner.
(2006). p. 10105.
"Modern Mechanics,"
American Journal of Physics
72.
R. Chabay & B. Sherwood.
(2004). p. 439-445.
"Bringing atoms into first-year physics,"
American Journal of Physics
67.
R. W. Chabay & B. A. Sherwood.
(1999). p. 1045-1050.
"Fundamental principles in introductory physics,"
Proceedings of the International Physics Education Conference, 5 to 8 July 2004, Durban, South Africa.
R. Chabay & B. Sherwood.
edited by D. Grayson.
(2005). p. 124-131.
Matter & Interactions I: Modern Mechanics and Matter & Interactions II: Electric & Magnetic Interactions.
R. W. Chabay & B. A. Sherwood.
New York: John Wiley & Sons,
(2002).
Intelligent tutoring systems and computer-assisted instruction: Shared issues and complementary approaches.
J.H. Larkin & R.W. Chabay (Eds.).
Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.,
(1992).
"Computer tutors: Implications of basic research on learning and teaching. In E. F. Redish & J. S. Risley, (Eds.),"
Computers in physics instruction: Proceedings.
R.W. Chabay.
Redwood City, CA: Addison-Wesley,
(1990). p. 290-301.
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