The Theatre The Theatre PhysicsPhysics

Learning Learning CommunityCommunity

Steven Zides - Physics Dept.Dr. Mark Ferguson - Theatre Dept.

Wofford College

What is a Learning Community?

A curricular approach that links two disparate classes, often science and

humanities, around an interdisciplinary theme, and enrolls a common group of

students.

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]

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”

Course Layout

Aristotle and Greek Science

The Scientific Revolution

19th Century Science

20th Century Science

The Two Cultures

Assessment Strategies

• essays• response papers• discussions• quizzes• midterms• concept maps• Pre and post evaluations

Assessment: What Worked Well

“This class has increased my awareness of how science fits into everyday life. It also inspired me to consider “life questions” through the filter of science.”

“I feel more confident in voicing my opinion and I was able to realize relationships between two things I would have never considered to be related.”

Question Cos Sci Fi Thea WorThis LC has helped me to see the connections between science and humanities/philosophy.

4.0 4.3 4.5 4.5

I’m confident that my new knowledge has real world applications.

3.6 3.6 3.5 4.3

This LC helped me to realize that there are multiple perspectives from which to view an issue.

4.4 3.2 4.1 4.5

Educational Advantages

• very low absenteeism

• very high class participation

• great social interaction

• effective scheduling structure

• dual faculty perspective very compelling

• highly flexible structure makes change possible

Where Do We Go From Here?

• Shorten 20th century section.

• find new plays to expand the Greek science and two cultures sections

• Totally redesign the lab experience to feature stagecraft experiences centered around set design, lighting, and sound.

• Have each student create their own science play

• Construct better assessment tools

The Theatre The Theatre PhysicsPhysics

Learning Learning CommunityCommunitySteven Zides - zidessb@wofford.edu

Mark Ferguson - fergusonma@wofford.edu