Timothy Stiles: Teaching Portfolio

I love to teach. It is exhilarating to work with students as they discover ideas and make connections between various ideas and concepts. The materials on this page offer some of my thoughts about teaching and learning. The documents also offer evidence from my experiences in putting those ideas into practice. It is a work in progress and will continue to grow and mature with time.

Teaching and Learning Philosophy

Past Teaching Responsibilities at Monmouth College

Introductory Physics Courses

• PHYS 130: Introductory Physics I: Calculus based introductory physics course, study of basic principles of mechanics, including conservation laws, Newton's Laws, angular motion and gravitation. Taught in the following terms: Fall 2010, Fall 2011, Fall 2012, Fall 2013, Fall 2014, and Fall 2015.
• PHYS 132: Introductory Physics II: Calculus based introductory physics of electricity and magnetism, including an introduction to Maxwell's equations. Taught in the following terms: Spring 2011 and Spring 2012.
• PHYS 134: Introductiory Physics III: Third semester of the calculus based physics sequence, includes a variety of topics, including fluids, oscillations, waves, sound, light, physical and geometrical optics, and introductory thermodynamics. Taught in the following terms: Fall 2010, Fall 2011, Fall 2013, Fall 2014, Fall 2015 and Fall 2016.

Advanced Physics Courses

• PHYS 208: Classical Mechanics Sophomore/Junior level course on mechanics. Includes a thorough overview of Newtonian mechanics, oscillations, an introduction to Lagrangian and Hamiltonion formulation, two-body problem, rotational mechanics and coupled oscillators. Taught in the following terms: Spring 2011, Fall 2015, Fall 2016.
• PHYS 303: Electricty and MagnetismJunior/Senior level course on electric and magnetic fields. Including vector calculus, electric potential, Poisson's equation, multi-pole expansion, methods of determining electric potential, magnetic fields, Faraday's Law, Maxwell's equations, and introduction to electromagnetic waves. Taught in the following terms: Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014.
• PHYS 315: Advanced Laboratory Junior/Senior level course on laboratory techniques and analysis. Students perform a variety of modern laboratory experiments, such as Millikan oil drop, electron q/m measurement, basid radiation physics, x-ray diffraction, ultrasound speed and diffraction, AFM imaging. Taught in the following terms: Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, and Spring 2014.

Physics Elective and Non-Major Courses

• PHYS 103: Astronomy Introductory astronomy for non-physics majors. Topics include: the earth, the moon, planets and stars and how they affect our lives. Simple laboratory experiments and telescopic observation are part of the course. This course satisfies the natural science (physical science) general education requirement. Taught in the following terms: Fall 2013, Spring 2015, Spring 2016.
• PHYS 190: Introduction to Digital Electronics An introduction to digital circuit design, both combinational and sequential, and their application in constructing digital instruments. Includes a discussion of arithmetic logic units and CPU's as well as an introduction to microprocessors such as Arduinos. Taught in Fall 2010, Spring 2014 and Fall 2016.
• PHYS 212 Optics
• PHYS 288: Introduction to Biomedical Physics I developed this upper level elective course on biological and medical physics. Topics include biomechanics, diffusion, nerve conduction, radiation physics, x-ray imaging, radiation therapy, ultrasound imaging, MRI, and nuclear medicine. Includes laboratory. Taught in Spring 2013 and Spring 2016.
• PHYS 388: Astrophysics I developed this upper level course on astronomy and astrophysics for physics majors. Intended as a junior/senior level course including an introduction to astrometry, solar system mechanics, universal gravitation, physics of stars, and galactic dynamics.

Courses Outside the Physics Program

• INTG101: Introduction to the Liberal Arts Seminar for first year students that introduces them to the history and methodology of the liberal arts. Strong discussion component, focuses on critical reading and analysis of a variety of texts. Taught in Fall 2011 and Fall 2012
• INTG315: Cosmology and Creation Seminar for junior level students as part of the Reflections program of the Integrated Studies requirement. The primary objective of this course is to explore possible answers to the questions, " Where do we come from? " " What is our place in this universe? " and "What is our destiny?" In the process of so doing, students will be encouraged to consider several theories of the universe - classical models, biblical doctrines and arguments, scientific theories based on compiled data, and a variety of Western and Eastern concepts.

Other Institutions

DePauw University

• Physics 120: Principles of Physics I: Calculus based introductory physics course using the Units C, N, and R of "Six Ideas that Shaped Physics" by Thomas Moore. Course includes study of conservation laws, Newton's laws of motion, rotational motion, graviation, and special relativity.
• Physics 130: Principles of Physics II: Calculus based introductory physics course on topics of wave motion, geometrical and physical optics, electricity and magnetism, and simple circuits. Textbook is "Physics for Scientist and Engineers: A Strategic Approach" by Randall Knight.
• Physics 197: First-Year Seminar - Naked to the Bone: As part of DePauw University's First-Year Seminar program, designed to engage incoming students in critical reading and writing skills in a discussion based small classroom setting. Each section offers a different topic, depending on the instructor. My class focused on the history, science, and culture of medical imaging. Readings included all or parts of "Naked to Bone" by Maryann Kevles, "Looking Within" by Anthony Wolbarst, "Transparent Body" by Jose van Dijck and "Picturing Personhood" by Joseph Dumit. Fall 2009.
• Physics 270: Mathematical Methods: A sophomore/junior class preparing students for advanced study in physics. The course covers many mathematical concepts useful to students in the physical sciences, including complex numbers, linear algebar, multi-dimensional calculus, infinite series, Fourier series and transforms, and differential equations. Fall 2009.
• Physics 420: Classical Mechanics: A junior/senior level theoretical course on mechanics using advanced mathematical and physical concepts. Topics include oscillations, two-body central force problems, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulation of mechanics, non-inertial frames, rotations of rigid bodies, coupled oscillators and nonlinear mechanics. Fall 2008.

Other Institutions

• University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Engineering Professional Development 654: Teaching Science and Engineering: As an intern with the Center for the Integration of Teaching, Research, and Learning, I assisted Professor Sandra Courter with the pilot version of an online course to instruct graduate students in pedagogical methods. My responsibilities included maintenance of the course management system, analysis of student learning gains, and leading the class for a set of lessons on peer instruction and active learning. Fall 2006.
  • Medical Physics 575: Diagnostic Ultrasound Physics: For three years (2005-2008), I was a guest lecturer for one week of this course. I taught two to three lessons on acoustic output measurements and the safety of diagnostic ultrasound and supervised one set of laboratory exercises. The students in this course are typically a mixture of first year graduate students and senior undergraduate physics majors.
• Madison Area Technical College
  • 20-806-221 General College Physics I: As an adjunct instructor, I was responsible for the lecture and laboratory component of this algebra-based course on mechanics. Enrollment was limited to twenty students. Textbook: "College Physics" by Serway and Faughn. Fall Semester 2004-2005.
  • 20-806-222 General College Physics II: A continuation of General Physics I focusing on electricity, magnetism, optics, and modern physics. Spring Semester 2004-2005.

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  Last Updated: October 11, 2016
  All views expressed on this site are those of the author, Timothy Stiles.