// Dr. Bob Beichner

Goodbye lecture, hello learning

Dr. Bob Beichner's physics class is on the front lines of a battle to change higher education. But it’s not the science that’s new and different, it’s the way Beichner teaches the subject.

In his classroom, students work in teams of three around small round conference tables. There are laptop computers on every table and white boards on every wall. The professor is there in the middle of the action. As he walks between the tables, Beichner throws out real-world problems and "ponderables" for the students to solve.

As the students huddle together, testing ideas and comparing notes, Beichner works the room, questioning hypotheses, offering clues, and fueling arguments. The system, called SCALE UP for Student Centered Activities for Large Enrollment Undergraduate Programs, is remarkably successful and has been adopted by universities nationwide.

For his work, Beichner recently received the McGraw Prize in Education, an annual award that recognizes educational innovation. He is a professor of physics in NC State’s College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.