Operationalizing the AAPT Learning Goals for the Lab

TL;DR

This paper describes a process to operationalize AAPT's recommended learning goals for physics labs and provides example activities to help instructors align their courses with these goals.

Contribution

It presents a systematic method to translate AAPT lab learning goals into practical, actionable lab activities for introductory physics courses.

Findings

Developed a procedure to operationalize AAPT goals

Created example lab activities aligned with goals

Provided guidance for lab course redesign

Abstract

Calls for reform to instructional labs means many instructors and departments are facing the daunting task of identifying goals for their introductory lab courses. Fortunately, the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) released a set of recommendations for learning goals for the lab to support lab redevelopment [1]. Here we outline the process we have undergone to identify a set of learning goals for the labs that operationalize those provided by the AAPT. We also provide two examples of newly developed lab activities that aim to meet those goals to demonstrate this operationalization. We aim to provide departments and instructors with a few ideas of a procedure that they can follow or a set of goals that they can use to align lab instruction with the AAPT learning goals.