Teaching Undergraduate and Graduate Students Results From Recent Research As Part of a Class

ABSTRACTWe have integrated recent research results in the curriculum of the University of Maryland, while leaving the basics intact. This allows us to teach the fundamental laws and to show the students how these help us to answer questions that are of importance today. This can be done as part of a laboratory and as part of a class. In the laboratory classes, we emphasize what is measured (the main topic), then measure samples recently done in the literature. If available, we measure two samples and have a discussion on what are the differences. These are then related to the manner the samples have been grown. In the classes, we show the basic equation or relation, and introduce how it can answer a question that is pertinent to today's research.</jats:p