Dr. Beth Thacker
Research
Grants
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) Challenge grant #1RC1GM090897-01 An
Assessment of Multimodal Physics Lab Intervention Efficacy in STEM Education, to assess for interventions to the laboratory curriculum at Texas Tech University, PIs Beth Thacker and Kelvin Cheng, $800,000 over two years to Texas Tech University.
- National Science Foundation - Course, Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement grant CCLI # 0737181 The Development of a Standardized Assessment for
Introductory Physics Courses, to develop a standardized assessment that can be used across colleges and universities to help evaluate the effectiveness of both traditionally and non-traditionally taught physics courses, going beyond conceptual inventories, to include problem solving skills, laboratory skills, and mathematical and conceptual modeling skills, co-PIs Aaron Titus, High Point University, and Beth Thacker, Texas Tech University, $74,994 total grant over 2 years to start-up this project, 2008-2010.
- National Science Foundation PHY-0456758, NRQCD Calculations of Heavy
Quark Bound States: Focus on the Fine Structure, travel money for 3 years to support startup of work on calculations of heavy quark bound states in non-relativistic quantum chromodynamics (NRQCD), $30,000 to Texas Tech University over 3 years, 2006 - 2009.
- National Science Foundation - Course, Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement
grant CCLI-EMD #0088780 Humanized Physics -- Reforming Physics Using Multimedia and Mathematical Modeling for development of materials for the introductory, algebra-based physics course with health science based content using mathematical modeling and multimedia, co-PIs Robert G. Fuller and Vicki L. Plano Clark, University of Nebraska - Lincoln and Nancy L. Beverly, Mercy College, and in collaboration with Chris D. Wentworth and Mark W. Plano Clark, Doane College, $378,798 total grant over 3 years, $80,000 to Texas Tech University, 2001-2004.
- National Science Foundation Award EEC-0087902, Curriculum Development
for the Design, Fabrication, and Utilization of Chip-Based Micro-
Analytical Systems, co-PI's Shubhra Gangopadhyay, Dominick J. Casadonte, Bharti Temkin, Henryk Temkin, Beth Ann Thacker, Texas Tech University, $499,609 over 3 years to Texas Tech University, 2001-2004.
- National Science Foundation - Course, Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement grant CCLI #9981031 Workshop Physics with Health Science Applications for development of materials for the introductory, algebra-based physics course with a health science based content focus in an interactive, computer-based laboratory setting, co-PIs Beth Ann Thacker, Texas Tech University and Ann Marie Eligon, Grand Valley State University, $190,637 total grant over 3 years, $106,000 to Texas Tech University, 2000-2003.
- Big 12 Faculty Fellowship for research with University of Nebraska-Lincoln, $2,300 for Beth Thacker, Texas Tech University, 1999-2000.
- Supported by Colorado College National Science Foundations Science Teacher Enhancement Project in work with Muskegon Heights High School Science faculty, summer 1997.
- Summer Undergraduate Research Grant, Grand Valley State University, $5,000,
joint award with student researcher, summer 1999.
- Summer Undergraduate Research Grant Grand Valley State University, $5,000,
joint award with student researcher, summer 1996.
- Summer Undergraduate Research Grant Grand Valley State University, $5,000
joint award with student researcher, summer 1995.
Articles in refereed journals
- Beth Thacker, Hani Dulli, Dave Pattillo, and Keith West, Lessons from a Large-Scale Assessment: Results from Conceptual Inventories.
- Beth Thacker, Ganesh Chapagain, Mark Ellermann, Keith West, The Effect of Problem Format on Students' Responses , submitted.
- Beth Thacker, Keith West, Ganesh Chapagain, Vanelet Rusuriye and Hani Dulli, Lessons from a Large-Scale Assessment: Results from Free Response Pre- and Post-testing in Electricity and Magnetism , submitted (2015).
- Jennifer Wilhelm, Beth Thacker and Ronald Wilhelm, Creating Constructivist Physics for Introductory University Classes, Electronic Journal of Science Education, Vol. 11, No. 2 (2007).
- Cheng, K., B. A. Thacker, R. L. Cardenas, and C. Crouch, Implementation of Interactive Online Homework Significantly Enhances Student's Learning of Physics Concepts in an Introductory Physics Course, Am. J. Phys. 72 (11), 1447 - 1453 (2004).
- Beth Thacker, Recent advances in classroom physics, Rep. Prog. Phys. 66, 1833 - 1864 (2003).
- Beth Thacker, A Study of the Nature of Students' Models of Microscopic Processes in the Context of Modern Physics Experiments, Am. J. of Phys. 71 (6), 599-606 (2003).
- Beth-Ann Thacker, Harvey S Leff, David P Jackson, An Introduction to the Theme Issue, American Journal of Physics 70 (3), 199 (2002).
- Beth Thacker, Uri Ganiel and Donald Boys, Macroscopic Phenomena and Microscopic Processes: Student Understanding of Transients in DC Electric Circuits, The Physics Education Research Supplement of the American Journal of Physics, 67 (7), S25-S31 (1999).
- Beth Thacker, Suzanne M. Lea, Eunsook Kim, Kelvin Trefz, Comparing Problem Solving Performance of Physics Students in Inquiry-Based and Traditional Physics Courses, Am. J. Phys. 62 (7), 627-633 (1994).
- Suzanne M. Lea, Beth Thacker, Eunsook Kim, Kelvin Trefz, Computer-Assisted Assessment of Student Understanding in Physics, Computers in Physics, 8 (1), 122-127, 1994.
- C. T. H. Davies and B. A. Thacker, Renormalization of Bilinears in NRQCD, Phys. Rev. D 48, 1329 (1993).
- C. T. H. Davies and B. A. Thacker, Heavy Quark Renormalization Parameters in Nonrelativistic QCD, Phys. Rev. D 45, 915 (1992).
- C. T. H. Davies and B. A. Thacker, Upsilon Spectroscopy from Lattice QCD, Nucl. Phys. B405, 593 (1993).
- B. A. Thacker and G. Peter Lepage, Heavy Quark Bound States in Lattice QCD, Phys. Rev. D 43, 196 (1991).
- Beth Thacker and Christine Davies, Renormalization of Bilinear Lattice Vertex Operators in NRQCD, Proceedings of LAT91, Tskuba, Japan, Nucl. Phys. B (Proc. Suppl.), 26, 378-380, (1992).
- C. T. H. Davies and B. A. Thacker, Upsilon Spectroscopy from Lattice QCD, Proceedings of LAT91, Tskuba, Japan, Nucl. Phys. B (Proc. Suppl.), 26, 375-377, (1992).
- B. A. Thacker and G. Peter Lepage, A Lattice QCD Simulation with Dynamical Heavy Quarks, Proceedings of LAT90, Tallahassee, Florida, Nucl. Phys. B (Proc. Suppl.), 20, 509-512, (1991).
- G. P. Lepage and B. A. Thacker, Effective Lagrangians for Simulating Heavy Quark Systems, Nucl. Phys. B 4, 199 (1988).
- G. P. Lepage and B. A. Thacker, Field theory on the lattice, Nucl. Phys. B (Proc. Suppl.), 4, 199 (1988).
- T. H. Wood and J. C. White and B. A. Thacker, Ultraviolet Photo Decomposition for Metal Deposition: Gas versus Surface Phase Processes, Appl. Phys. Lett. 42, 408 (1983).
Publications
Beth Thacker and Keith West, Physics 1403 Lab Manual, Physics Department, Texas Tech University, (Stipes Publishing, L.L.C., 2013).
Beth Thacker and Keith West, Physics 1408 Lab Manual, Physics Department, Texas Tech University, (Stipes Publishing, L.L.C., 2013).
Beth Thacker and Keith West, Physics 1404 Lab Manual, Physics Department, Texas Tech University, (Stipes Publishing, L.L.C., 2010).
Beth Thacker and Keith West, Physics 2401 Lab Manual, Physics Department, Texas Tech University, (Stipes Publishing, L.L.C., 2010).
Non-peer-reviewed journal articles and publications
Beth Thacker, Hani Dulli and Keith West, sets of pre- and post tests for the algebra-based and calculus-based recitation sections, Electricity, Magnetism and Optics, (2010 - 2012).
Beth Thacker, Hani Dulli and Keith West, sets of pre- and post tests for the algebra-based and calculus-based recitation sections, Mechanics, (2010 - 2012).
Beth Thacker, Abel Diaz and Ann Marie Eligon, An Inquiry-based Curriculum Specifically for the Introductory Algebra-based Physics Course (2007).
Beth Thacker, bel Diaz and Ann Marie Eligon, , An Inquiry-based, Laboratory-based Curriculum Specifically for the Introductory Algebra-based Physics Course
Beth Thacker, "Twelve to Twenty Contact Hours and Research, Too, in PER Conference '98, publication of invited talks at 1998 Physics Education Research Conference, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1998).
Beth Thacker, What is Research in Physics Education? Physics Magazine, The Ohio State University (1993).
Beth Thacker, It's About Time, Physics Magazine, The Ohio State University (1992).
Workshops
Presenter: A Hands-on and Minds-on Focus to Teaching the Introductory Algebra-
based Physics Course, series of three workshops presented at 2006 International Workshop on New Trends in Physics Teaching, Puebla, Mexico, (May, 2006).
Organizer, Why Choose to Teach Differently? The Benefits of a Dynamic Classroom
and Suggestions for Creating One, Teaching, Learning and Technology Center, Texas Tech University (February, 2005).
Organizer, Humanized Physics Activities, American Association of Physics Teachers,
Sacramento, CA (August, 2004).
Organizer, Humanized Physics Activities, American Association of Physics Teachers,
Miami, FL (January, 2004).
Organizer, Workshop Physics with Health Science Applications, American Association
of Physics Teachers, Miami, FL (January, 2004).
Organizer, Humanized Physics Activities, American Association of Physics Teachers,
Madison, WI (August, 2003).
Organizer, Workshop Physics with Health Science Applications, American Association
of Physics Teachers, Madison, WI (August, 2003).
Organizer, Workshop Physics with Health Science Applications, week-long workshop,
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX (July 14-18, 2003).
Organizer, Workshop Physics with Health Science Applications, week-long workshop,
Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI (June 16-20, 2003).
Organizer, Workshop Physics with Health Science Applications, American Association
of Physics Teachers, Boise, Idaho, (August, 2002).
Organizer, Workshop Physics with Health Science Applications, American Association
of Physics Teachers, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, (January, 2002).
