EPT Summer Camp 2023

EPT summer camp

Overview

EPT summer camp is an event for teaching assistants (TAs), organized by the EPT-hub (D-PHYS / ETH Zurich).

During this camp TAs will recall basics of learning and teaching and explore ways how to motivate and engage students, experimenting with student-activation techniques. Additionally to didactical methods, participants will also learn more about topics of self-management, personal and professional development.

The EPT-hub is supported by INNOVEDUM fund and Department of Physics at ETH Zurich.

Photo Impressions

Photo by Whitemovie production. Photo editing by Oksana Borovets.

Schedule

Program

Workshops of the EPT summer camp 2023

"Intermezzo to basics of teaching & learning"
Gerd Kontemeyer, Director of Educational Development and Technology, ETH Zurich

This workshop introduces some of the basics of lesson design in STEM, touching on setting learning objectives, aligning your activities with those objectives, and giving feedback to learners through assessment techniques. We will also shortly touch on how to create a safe classroom environment in which it is okay to fail - and recover.

Speaker:
Gerd Kortemeyer studied physics at the University of Hanover, Germany, and at Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA, where he completed his thesis research on the simulation of ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions. He has since worked on using technology for STEM education, first by leading the instructional technology laboratory of the College of Natural Science at Michigan State University, and then as an Associate Professor at the same university with a focus on Physics Education Research. Since 2019, he has been serving as Director of Educational Development and Technology at ETH Zurich.

"In the spirit of the EPT: loving to teach"

Vira Bondar, EPT Team

"In the spirit of the EPT: loving to teach"

Vira Bondar, EPT Team

In this workshop we will glance at Engaging Physics Tutoring approach, which is promoted by the EPT-hub @ ETH Zurich, supporting teaching assistants (TAs) in the preparation of their exercise classes. Based on a community of good teaching practice, we develop lesson materials and activities that involve the students emotionally and foster their active thinking. Compilations of ready-to-use lesson designs in combination with short training seminars serve TAs as a guidance for their lessons. With the EPT approach we try to rethink the traditionally rather technical physics exercise class, inspiring TAs and their students to enjoy it together!

Speaker:

Vira Bondar is leading the EPT-hub, co-founded together with Jonas Nuber and Manuel Zeyen - to encourage didactical developments and support TAs in their teaching duties and beyond. She is also doing particle-physics research in the group of Prof. Kirch.
More info here.

"Teaching with Questions",
"Feedback habits"
Siara Isaac, Researcher at the Centerl of Learning Sciences, EPFL

Teaching with Questions

Learning how to solve problems like a physicist is a key goal for exercises sessions. Research shows that you will be more effective in guiding students to develop the thinking skills they need if you use questions more and give fewer explanations. In this session, you will practice strategies to get students actively thinking rather than passively listening.

Feedback habits

You know what great work looks like – but do your students know? Clarifying the goals is an important first step in providing students with feedback they can apply. Constructive feedback includes both positive and critical elements, and focuses on process-level feedback that students will be able to transfer to the next problem. In this session, you will practice formulating feedback that students know how to use.

These 2 active workshops are an opportunity for you to develop micro-routines for using questions and providing feedback to guide student learning; key skills to ensure that your time and energy has the maximum impact on student learning.

Speaker:

Siara Isaac is a researcher at the Centre for Learning Sciences at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. Her recent work, including her 2022 book (Facilitating Experiential Learning in Higher Education - Teaching and Supervising in Labs, Fieldwork, Studios, and Projects) has focused on epistemic cognition and how students develop transversal skills such as inquiry and team work in science and engineering contexts. Siara has previously worked as teaching advisor and has taught in Canada, China, France and Switzerland. She holds a M.Sc. in Chemistry from McGill University and a PhD in Educational Research from Lancaster University.

"Workshop of happiness"
Katia Kulyk, Coach for personal & professional development

Happiness workshop will be a practical discovery of happiness boosters and your motivation to create happiness in your daily life, at home and at work. We shall look at happiness as a skill. We shall discuss and practice 7 ways to develop it.

Speaker
Katia Kulyk is a life coach, happiness, yoga teacher and writer.
She is certified in neurolinguistic programming (NLP) and was teaching in 18 countries around the world.
For 2,5 years she lived in Thailandand studied meditation with buddhist monks.
Katia knows a million paths towards joy and will be happy to inspire you to find your own.

"I'm ok, you are ok: developing social competences and communication skills for research and industry"
Ulrich Thibaut, UTH Consulting,
lecturer at D-CHAB, ETH Zurich

Speaker:
Ulrich Thibaut studied Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Chemistry at Tübingen University in Germany.
On graduating, and after qualifying as a Pharmacist, Ulrich obtained a PhD in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and subsequently joined Byk Gulden GmbH (which later became ALTANA Pharma AG) as a research scientist. He served in various scientific and managerial roles in Research and Development and was appointed Executive Vice President Global R&D and member of the Executive Board of Management of ALTANA Pharma AG in 2004.
In 2006 Ulrich joined Drägerwerk AG in Lübeck, a global leader in the medical and safety device industry as Chief Technology Officer and Member of the Executive Board.
In 2010, Ulrich joined Octapharma AG in Switzerland as Executive Board Member, with responsibility for the global R&D organization of the Octapharma.
Today, Ulrich teaches at ETH and is a consultant to the pharmaceutical and medical device industry.

"Classrom climate"
Guillaume Schiltz, educational developer and lecturer at D-PHYS / ETH Zurich

Teachers create a certain learning climate through formal and informal interactions with students. This climate establishes how we and our students feel about learning. It naturally has also strong effects on students' learning. During the workshop you will investigate the effects related to your own teaching.

Speaker:
https://www.phys.ethz.ch/de/das-departement/personen/person-detail.MTU4OTg0.TGlzdC81MTUsMTE3MjU5OTI5OQ==.html

"Hands-on experiments for your class"
Manuel Zeyen / EPT Team &
Andreas Eggenberger / Head of Physikpraktikum & Demonstrationsexperimente at D-PHYS, ETH Zurich

Can you make paper fireproof with an (empty) beer-can? What makes the coffee cup sing? What is an M&M's rainbow? Nothing beats a quick experiment that demonstrates what's going. This seminar will introduce you to the teaching method of so-called "Hands-On experiments": short, easy-to-prepare and easy-to-perform experiments which illustrate an often surprisingly deep concept that you want to teach your students. We also demonstrate in-vivo how a Hands-On experiment can lead to instructive follow-up discussions with the students. Most of our examples are from physics classes, but the general idea applies to all subjects. Our goal with this seminar is to encourage the participants to take this leap of faith and use the "magic" of Hands-On experiments to activate, motivate and challenge their students.

Speakers:
Manuel Zeyen was born in Karlsruhe, Germany and studied physics at ETH Zürich. He did his PhD at ETH and PSI, in the group of Prof. Klaus Kirch, where his task was to build a high-power laser system for the spectroscopy of muonic hydrogen. He has always been active in teaching, obtained his Teacher's diploma for Swiss high schools in 2021 and is one of the founders of the EPT project at ETH. In his free time he likes to play volleyball, the drums and to enjoy the outdoors.

"Gravity battle"
Andreas Eggenberger /Head of Physikpraktikum & Demonstrationsexperimente at D-PHYS, ETH Zurich

Speaker:
Andreas Eggenberger is head of the physics lab at ETH Zurich and is an enthusiastic experimentalist. His passion is sharing physics knowledge from a practical approach. He is always in pursuit of finding simple yet stunning experiments to teach students as well as a general audience. Having fun with physics and combining creativity with experience allows to aim for the stars - literally.

"Designing a good lesson"
Jonas Nuber and Benjamin Savinson

How do I prepare a successful lesson efficiently? What can I do to feel comfortable with my performance in class? Questions about teaching and their answers are highly individual.
In this workshop, we will approach these and other questions practically while applying our new insights from the previous seminars.
After a short introduction, we are drafting lesson plans under the supervision of experienced Teaching Assistants.
Additionally, we will prepare short micro-teaching units and perform them in front of peers to get feedback.
Let us boost our passion together!

Speakers:
Jonas Nuber studied physics in Karlsruhe and has been working as a researcher at Paul Scherrer Institute and ETH Zurich since 2018, where he recently finished his PhD studies. As an enthusiastic Teaching Assistant who likes to try new things in class he is one of the founding members of the EPT initiative.

Benjamin Savinson is from Hamburg and currently studying towards his Master degree in Physics at ETH Zurich. He is very passionate and enthusiastic about teaching fundamental physics to students from all disciplines. He has taught the introductory Physics I & Physics II lectures as a Teaching Assistant at ETH and was awarded the TA Award for his exercise class. He is also actively involved in the development of new teaching materials for these lectures. As an early and active participant of the EPT initiative, he is now working with us to share some of his teaching experiences.

"Public speaking for lecturers and motivation in teaching"
Magda Kern, Head of Speakers at TEDx Z, Public Speaking Wizard

Speaker:
Magda Kern is a psychologist, public speaking trainer and PCC ICF coach. As Head of Speakers at TEDxZurich, wshe has been coaching TED speakers for six years.
She runs three companies, all in the education field. Lately, she has started teaching students the art of public speaking and stress management. On a regular basis, she helps, among others, lawyers, performers, lecturers, managers, startups, and spoke persons in preparation for their speeches in front of hundreds of people in the audience, as well as in conducting small meetings or presentations.

Guests of the evening events

"Explaining to be understood"
Christoph Biemann,
moderator of the "Sendung mit der Maus"

Speaker:
Christoph Biemann is a German writer, director and one of the presenters of the iconic award-winning TV show - Die Sendung mit der Maus.
He has his own production company, Delta TV, and has won numerous awards, including the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Beautiful bandura concert

Yaroslav Dzhus

Beautiful bandura concert

Yaroslav Dzhus

Artist:

Ukrainian bandurist, composer, arranger, DJ, laureate of all-Ukrainian and international competitions, semi-finalist and winner of the prize of audience sympathy of the TV show "Ukraine has talent-2", founder of the band "Spyliasty Kobzari".

Complements

"When the day starts.."
morning yoga in beautiful landscape

EPT hike in the Stoos mountains

EPT core team

Assisting organizational camp team

Venue

The Mattli Antoniushaus Morschach is located in the Stoos-Muota Valley region. It is built directly on the rock of a mountain, with a wonderful view over lake Lucerne and the Rütli.
Famous for it‘s beautiful surroundings, the region offers a wide variety of activities, including: the Swiss Path around the Lake of Uri, ridge hiking trail, moor experience trail, mountain inn trail and alpine cheese trail on the Stoos, Dachsen Trail and natural rock climbing wall in Morschach, bike trail through the Ingenbohl forest, in the Muotathal joke trail, husky camp, Hölloch, Bödmeren primeval forest and Glattalp as well as the Swiss Holidaypark in Morschach, museums in Schwyz and much more as bad weather options.

Contact:

Dr. Vira Bondar

Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics
HPK G 29
Otto-Stern-Weg 5
8093 Zürich
Switzerland

bondarv@phys.ethz.ch