December 21, 2020
All students in Natasha Holmes’ Physics of the Heavens and the Earth course have at least one thing in common: They chose to major in something other than physics. Serge Petchenyi/Cornell University
Natasha Holmes is pictured in an active learning classroom.
“Some of them are fascinated by the discipline and very excited to learn more,” said Holmes, the Ann S. Bowers Assistant Professor of physics in the College of Arts and Sciences. “Some of them disliked physics in high school and are intimidated by the prospect of another physics course.”
To introduce non-majors to the field in a way that diminishes students’ apprehension and increases their enthusiasm, Holmes designed a course with an active learning approach informed by her extensive physics education research, and three key projects that tap into students’ non-science areas of study.