92 Research Reflection by Nathan Mellish

Faculty Mentor: Jordan Gerton (Physics and Astronomy, University of Utah)

Participating in the SPUR program has been one of the most enriching experiences of my undergraduate career. Over this summer, I worked on the project “Fostering Sensemaking in Introductory Physics Labs using a Design-Based Research Approach,” whose objective was to improve TA and LA training to better facilitate student reasoning in lab environments. While the project was set in the context of physics education, it pushed me to apply my skills outside of content knowledge into pedagogy, curriculum design, and qualitative analysis.

I had begun the program believing I would contribute as a physics major, but soon I found myself laboring at the intersection of research, teaching, and educational justice. I viewed Periscope classroom videos, coded for occurrences of student sensemaking, and analyzed the facilitation moves of TAs. I developed preparatory activities for instructors to learn to notice and respond to student thinking in the moment. These assignments required close attention to social and cognitive processes in the lab-something I had never had explicit training observing before.

The SPUR experience deepened my understanding of teaching and learning as active, improvisational processes. It taught me how even small instructional choices can either foster or hinder student engagement with ideas. It also strengthened my skills in qualitative research, project iteration, and collaborative authorship-skills I plan to carry into future work.

As someone who hopes to study both physics and education, this project clarified a possible future path: combining scientific research and attempts to improve the teaching of science. Regardless of whether I pursue graduate studies in physics, education, or both, I now envision myself not just as a student or researcher but also as someone who can potentially contribute to the community of learners. SPUR offered a space for me to try on that role in a challenging, supportive, and intellectually demanding environment.