A Large Scale Assessment of the Introductory Courses: Overview

We discuss a large scale assessment of the introductory courses. We are performing a large scale assessment of four interventions in our introductory courses: 1) the introduction of research-based laboratories and teaching pedagogies into the laboratory/recitation sections, 2) training the teaching assistants in new pedagogies and the development and use of grading rubrics, 3) the integration of the lecture and the lab with the new research-based laboratories and pedagogies in place and 4) a completely laboratory-based, interactive engagement course as a small, independent section of the course. We discuss these interventions and the assessment process and assessment instruments being used.