AN OUTREACH INITIATIVE AT
RYERSON UNIVERSITY
Tetyana Antimirova
Department of Physics,
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Science
Ryerson University, Toronto
OAPT C O N F E R E N C E
31 May - 2 June 2007
Ontario Science Center
RYERSON’S MISSION
Ryerson is committed to excellence in
teaching
Ryerson offers professionally oriented
socially relevant education
Long tradition of serving local
community
Discover Ryerson
RYERSON’S MISSION

Ryerson is committed to excellence in teaching

Ryerson offers professionally oriented socially
relevant education

Long tradition of serving local community
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
AT RYERSON
http://www.physics.ryerson.ca/
OUR OWN PROGRAMS:
BSc in Medical Physics
MSc in Biomedical Physics
Physics Education at Ryerson
University
WE TEACH…
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Introductory physics courses for ~750 students in Engineering
Programs
Introductory physics courses for ~280 students and some
electives in four streams of Science Program (Medical
Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Contemporary Science)
Advanced physics courses for our own undergraduate BSc
program in Medical Physics
Graduate courses for our graduate MSc program in Biomedical
Physics
Some elective courses for Liberal Arts Programs
Course for Architectural Science Program (new!)
OUR FACULTY
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12 faculty members (three more are being hired)
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The majority of recently hired faculty are in Medical Physics field
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All our faculty is committed to excellence in teaching
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In August 2004 the Department hired a person dedicated solely to Physics
Education (lucky me!)
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Physics Education is designated as our second area of expansion (one more
hired, will join the Department in July 2007)
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We believe that we are the only Physics Department in Canada which hired
tenure-track faculty for PER
OUR DREAM…
To create a Centre for Science Education
Research and Outreach at Ryerson:
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Science Education Research (PER in
particular)
Collaboration with school teachers
Outreach to schools and community
OUR EDUCATION-RELATED
PROJECTS
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Implementation of activity-based physics
in some of our courses
Plans for total lab renovations
Implementation of video-analysis assignments
(in progress)
FCI (Force Concept Inventory ) pre-instruction
and post-instruction testing in some of our
courses (action research)
OUR EDUCATION-RELATED
PROJECTS
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Common theme: the use of new technologies
to enhance students learning (clickers, Motion
Video Analysis, Logger Pro, interactive
simulations, on-line tutoring systems
(Mastering Physics))
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Goal: to implement activity-based, inquiry
based learning
WHY OUTREACH?
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Postsecondary and secondary education
have similar goals and face similar challenges
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Both systems can benefit from sharing
experiences and exchanging ideas
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Help the students with smooth transition from high school to
university
WE HAVE A COMMON GOAL
to provide successful student-centered teaching
and learning at both high school and University
levels
WHY OUTREACH?
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Division of Physics Education, Canadian Association
of Physicists is alarmed about dropping enrollment in
physics courses both at the University and High
School levels in many provinces
closer interaction between the school teachers’ and
university faculty is needed (through CAP activities,
OAPT and locally)
Start locally
OUR ACTIVITIES TO DATE
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We hosted the “Physic and Earth and Space
Science Curriculum Review Day” on May 9,
2007
The event was co-organized by the TDSB and
the Department of Physics at Ryerson
University
The event was sponsored by our Department
OUR ACTIVITIES TO DATE
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Several second-year students from our
Medical Physics Program volunteer at
Visions of Science Club
(their own initiative!)
OUR ACTIVITIES TO DATE
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I participated in the selection and training of the Canadian
team for the International Physics Olympiads in 2006 .
I taught and co-supervised the Laboratory Training
Session; co-supervised and judged the Experimental
Competition for Physics Olympiad Preparation Week,
Physics National Olympiad Finals 2006 held at the
University of Toronto, May 28-June 2, 2006.
Two members of the Canadian team won medals at the
2006 International Physics Olympiad.
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I will participate again this year (at Laval University, June
3-10, 2007)
OUR PLANS
For the long-term collaboration, we plan to hold a
series of events jointly with the TDSB on pedagogy
and teaching resources such as interactive teaching,
project-based learning, hands-on learning, review of
available curriculum materials (for example “Minds
on Physics” curriculum), Interactive Lecture
demonstrations, Video Analysis, etc.
WHAT WE CAN OFFER
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To send our Faculty to your class to talk about
Medical Physics and Biophysics
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To invite your class for a site visit at Ryerson
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Once we get new teaching labs we will be able to
provide workshops for teachers if needed
New ideas from YOU are welcome!
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS…
SUGGESTIONS… IDEAS…
Please feel free to contact us:
Phone: (416) 9795000 x 7416
Email: antimiro@ryerson.ca
Phone: (416) 9795000 x 6538
Email: goldman@ryerson.ca
Tetyana Antimirova
Assistant Professor
Undergraduate Program
Coordinator
Department of Physics
Ryerson University
Pedro Goldman
Professor and Chair
Department of Physics
Ryerson University
2008 OAPT CONFERENCE
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Department of Physics at Ryerson will host
next OAPT conference
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We look forward to see you at Ryerson!