Adrienne Wootters

Adrienne Wootters, Chair

Education

Ph.D. University of Mass., Amherst, 2002

M.A., University of Texas, Austin, 1983

B.S., University of Texas, Austin, 1980

View my CV

Courses Taught

PHYS 252: Introduction to Waves, Optics, and Relativity

PHYS 115: Physics for Future Presidents

PHYS 460: Statistical Thermodynamics

PHYS 351: Modern Physics

PHYS 401/402: Advanced Lab

PHYS 580: Solid State Physics

 

Special Projects/Activities

I am the director of MCLA's Faculty Center. In addition to providing a space for faculty members to meet and work informally, the Faculty Center hosts presentations relevant to the scholarship of teaching and learning.

I am also the creator and director of MCLA's Makerspace. Opening January 2016, the Makerspace is a weekly drop-in center in Bowman Hall where students, faculty, and staff can learn Arduino electronics, 3D printing, and machine shop basics to create a wide variety of technical and artistic projects.

http://www.sencer.net

https://mcla.digication.com

https://mcla.instructure.com

Research/Creative Interests

My Ph.D. work was in experimental low temperature physics, where I studied properties of superfluid helium in porous media. Since coming to MCLA, my focus been on science education reform in schools and at the university level. I am a Leadership Fellow for SENCER (Science Education for New Civic Engagements and Responsibilities), a science education reform project that focuses on teaching science through complex, socially relevant issues.

Publications

A. H. Wootters, M. P. Lilly, and R. B. Hallock, “Hysteresis and avalanche behavior of helium in Nuclepore and Anopore,” J. Low Temp. Phys. 110, 561 (1998).

A.H. Wootters and R. B. Hallock, “Superfluid Avalanches in Nuclepore: Constrained vs. Free-Boundary Experiments,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 165301 (2003).

A.H. Wootters and M. Ganger, “Science Education for Pre-service Teachers: What Constitutes Adequate Preparation?” SENCER newsletter, October, 2006

Talks and Presentations

ALPhA Conference on Laboratory Instruction Beyond the First Year (BFY), Philadelphia, July 2012. Contributed poster: “The Advanced Lab Sequence at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

MASS STEM Summit Workshop, Worcester, MA, October 2014, with Justin Fermann (UMass), “Massachusetts Integrative Science in Higher Education: How do you build it?.”

SENCER Summer Institute, Worcester, MA, August 2015. Workshop: “Essential Elements of Online and Blended Courses.