I have been teaching for many years, and I think it is very important not just for students, but to physics generally. Good teaching can foster a lifelong interest in physics, which may increase the overall standing of physics in the community. This is hugely important since many of our activities are publicly funded.

I have put together a list of goals that I think the School of Physics should be trying to achieve with first year students. I originally wrote this in order to define the purpose of labs within first year physics. However I think it is important to have something like this available in order to make clear decisions in all aspects of teaching. This document is a draft that I hope will be built upon in order to guide the planning of physics courses in the future. It is not the only such document: it should stand in conjunction with School and University mission statements.

First Year Physics Goals: Goals.rtf

Disclaimer: This document represents only my opinion, and has not been endorsed by anyone else in the School of Physics.