• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
ERN: Emerging Researchers National Conference in STEM

ERN: Emerging Researchers National Conference in STEM

  • About
    • About AAAS
    • About the NSF
    • About the Conference
    • Partners/Supporters
    • Project Team
  • Conference
  • Abstracts
    • Undergraduate Abstract Locator
    • Graduate Abstract Locator
    • Abstract Submission Process
    • Presentation Schedules
    • Abstract Submission Guidelines
    • Presentation Guidelines
  • Travel Awards
  • Resources
    • Award Winners
    • Code of Conduct-AAAS Meetings
    • Code of Conduct-ERN Conference
    • Conference Agenda
    • Conference Materials
    • Conference Program Books
    • ERN Photo Galleries
    • Events | Opportunities
    • Exhibitor Info
    • HBCU-UP/CREST PI/PD Meeting
    • In the News
    • NSF Harassment Policy
    • Plenary Session Videos
    • Professional Development
    • Science Careers Handbook
    • Additional Resources
    • Archives
  • Engage
    • Webinars
    • ERN 10-Year Anniversary Videos
    • Plenary Session Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Login

Targeted Enhancement of the Undergraduate Physics Program in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Howard University

Faculty #53
Discipline: Physics
Subcategory: STEM Science and Mathematics Education

Prabhakar Misra - Howard University
Co-Author(s): Demetrius Venable, Belay Demoz, and Gregory Jenkins, Howard University, Washington, DC



The targeted enhancement of the undergraduate program in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Howard University has been accomplished via implementation of the following four major initiatives, namely conversion of the existing General Astronomy course into a hybrid online/laboratory class, significant upgrading of the planetarium and telescope astronomical observatory, successful implementation of both an Atmospheric Science minor and a recruitment/scholarship program and peer support/tutorial program for physics majors. Infrastructure has been considerably enhanced by the upgraded facilities in the Locke Hall Planetarium and Telescope Observatory. The new telescope in the observatory and the full-dome projector in the planetarium have helped to dramatically increase the number of impactful outreach events. A series of new planetarium shows and enriched telescope hands-on activities and student-instructor interactions have helped reinforce the learning material covered in the hybrid General Astronomy course lectures. Based on the student feedback responses to regularly conducted surveys, the knowledge base and engagement of the students taking the hybrid course have been markedly improved, and as a consequence it is anticipated that the future enrollment in the course will show a measurable increase too. Improving teaching, learning and critical retention of key concepts, by developing more effective pedagogical approaches – such as hybrid courses and hands-on activities – will better prepare STEM majors for the professional workforce. Besides STEM majors, the targeted infusion project has the potential to make the hybrid General Astronomy course offering more attractive to humanities and social science majors as well, as more fascinating planetarium shows have become available and additional outreach events are being held that utilize the enhanced telescope for observations of the Washington night sky and rare celestial events. Greater involvement of the community at-large – via increased frequency of public outreach activities – serves to enhance the image of Howard University as a civic partner by engaging the public in enriching open house events, which in turn will also help in the recruitment of additional physics majors to the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Howard University.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): Financial support from the National Science Foundation (Award No. HRD-1238383) is gratefully acknowledged.

Faculty Advisor: None Listed,

Sidebar

Abstract Locators

  • Undergraduate Abstract Locator
  • Graduate Abstract Locator

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. DUE-1930047. Any opinions, findings, interpretations, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of its authors and do not represent the views of the AAAS Board of Directors, the Council of AAAS, AAAS’ membership or the National Science Foundation.

AAAS

1200 New York Ave, NW
Washington,DC 20005
202-326-6400
Contact Us
About Us

  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The World’s Largest General Scientific Society

Useful Links

  • Membership
  • Careers at AAAS
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Focus Areas

  • Science Education
  • Science Diplomacy
  • Public Engagement
  • Careers in STEM

Focus Areas

  • Shaping Science Policy
  • Advocacy for Evidence
  • R&D Budget Analysis
  • Human Rights, Ethics & Law

© 2023 American Association for the Advancement of Science