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About Dr. Charles De Leone
Welcome to my website! I am a member of the Physics Department at California State University, San Marcos.
Education
University of California, Davis
Ph.D. in Physics, September 1995
Thesis Title: Mean-Field Theories in Low-Dimensional Spin Systems
Santa Clara University
Bachelor of Science in Physics, 1988
Research
Adaptation and Implementation of Reformed Courses
There are many examples of institutions that have initiated successful curricular reforms. What factors determine the feasibility of implementing the course at other institutions? How do we characterize a secondary implementation's success? I am interested these questions, particularly in the context of CSUSM's Physics 205 course, which I adapted from UC Davis' Physics 7 course (developed by Wendell Potter, myself, and others).
Research on Physics of Human Gait
Human gait is aperiodic, yet has strong periodic tendencies. This research with Prof. Jeff Nessler studies how external influences, such as walking next to another person effect human gait. We have employed mathematical techniques commonly used in the study of chaotic phenomena to make better sense of such external effects.
Students' use of representations
I am interested in how introductory physics students use graphical, symbolic, and diagrammatic representations in problem solving.
Tablet PCs as digital whiteboards
This project compares Tablet PCs and whiteboards for small group problem solving.
Courses
PHYS 101
The 1st semester (mechanics, energy, and waves) of the standard introductory level physics course for students mainly majoring in the biological sciences. Taught 3 hours lecture per week and 3 hours of lab per week.
PHYS 102
The 2nd semester (electricity, magnetism, optics, and modern physics) of the standard introductory level physics course for students mainly majoring in the biological sciences. Taught 3 hours lecture per week and 3 hours of lab per week.
PHYS 201
Physics I. The 1st semester (mechanics, energy, and waves) of the standard introductory level physics course for students mainly majoring in computer science. Taught 3 hours lecture per week and 3 hours of lab per week.
PHYS 202
Physics II. The 2nd semester (electricity, magnetism and optics) of the standard introductory level physics course for students mainly majoring in computer science. Taught 3 hours lecture per week and 3 hours of lab per week.
PHYS 203
Modern Physics. The 3rd semester (thermodynamics, relativity, and quantum physics) of the standard introductory level physics course for students mainly majoring in computer science. Taught 3 hours lecture per week and 3 hours of lab per week.
PHYS 205
Physics for the Biological Sciences I. The calculus based 1st semester (energy, thermodynamics, model of matter, and mechanics) of the reformed introductory level physics course for students mainly majoring in biological sciences. Total of 6 contact hours/week in combined lab/lecture.
PHYS 206
Physics for Biological Sciences II. The calculus based 2nd semester (oscillations, waves, optics, electricity and magnetism, modern physics) of the reformed introductory level physics course for students mainly majoring in biological sciences. Total of 6 contact hours/week in combined lab/lecture.
PHYS 324
Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics. Covers the laws of thermodynamics with applications to ideal and non-ideal systems. Includes elementary kinetic theory of gases, entropy, classical and quantum statistical mechanics. Other topics covered may include magnetism and low-temperature physics.
PHYS 422
Applied Solid State Physics Upper-division, 1 semester, 3-unit physics course. Selected topics in solid-state physics. Includes crystal structure, thermal, electrical, and magnetic properties of solids, elementary band theory, semiconductors, and solid-state devices.
PHYS 490
Biological Physics (Topics Class) Upper-division, 1 semester, 2-unit physics course. Selected topics in Biological Physics. Taught as a topics course. Included guest lectures by post-docs and graduate students from UCSD Center for Theoretical Biological Physics.
PHYS 499C
Senior Research Thesis in Physics. A one semester 3-unit course involving undergraduate students. Taught multiple times for many students with various topics. Note that students in this class have gone on to win campus awards in the student research competition, and have competed in CSU statewide student research competition. A student enrolled in this class won the Chemistry Department's Senior Research Project award.
PHYS 499B
Senior Research Thesis in Physics. A one semester 2-unit course involving undergraduate students. Taught multiple times for many students with various topics.
PHYS 499A
Senior Research Thesis in Physics. A one semester 1-unit course involving undergraduate students. Taught multiple times for many students with various topics.
GES 100
Physical Science Around Us. A one semester, lower division, general education physical science course. Topic coverage included an introduction to thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, waves, light, atomic/nuclear physics and radiation. Total of 3 contact hours per week.
GES 101
Matter, Molecules, Life, and the Environment. A one semester, lower division, general education physical science course with two hours of laboratory and two hours of lecture per week. Topic coverage included kinematics, the laws of motion, energy, thermodynamics, and electrical phenomena. Total of 4 contact hours per week.
GES 105
Introduction to Physical Science. A one semester, lower division, general education physical science course that is unique in that course content is half chemistry and half physics and is team taught by a physicist and chemist. Topic coverage includes a survey of kinematics, the laws of motion, energy, heat, waves, optics, and electrical phenomena and introductory chemistry. Total of 3 contact hours per week.
Vitae
Positions:
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| 8/11 - present | Professor of Physics California State University, San Marcos |
| 8/06 - 7/11 | Associate Professor and Chair of Physics California State University, San Marcos |
| 8/01 - 7/06 | Assistant Professor of Physics California State University, San Marcos |
| 9/95 - 7/01 | Lecturer/Post Doctoral Researcher in Physics Education University of California, Davis Developed Curriculum, Lectured, and Performed Research on NSF and FIPSE funded curriculum development projects. |
| 8/94 - 9/95 | Teaching Assistant in Course Development University of California, Davis Worked as teaching assistant developing course materials, and instructing in discussion/laboratories. |
| 6/92 - 8/94 | Research Assistant University of California, Davis Research Assistant in condensed matter theory, investigating specifically the ground states of low dimensional spin systems. |
| 5/93 - 10/93 | Visiting Researcher (INCOR Program) Los Alamos National Lab Research Assistant in condensed matter theory, investigating specifically the ground states of low dimensional spin systems. |
External Grant Activity:
| Grant Information | Amount Awarded |
|---|---|
| National Science Foundation Grant: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program (STEP) "Increasing STEM talent through regional partnerships, recruiting, and retention," PI with co-PI's Prof. Price, Prof. Bray, Dean V. Rocha, and Dean C. Francis of Palomar College. Five-year project fully funded. Awarded Sept 1, 2011 |
$1,955,699 |
| Microsoft External Research Foundation Award "Developing and assessing digital ink lab notebooks." 2008-2009 Co-PI with Prof. Edward Price (fully funded) |
$75,000 |
| HP Technology for Teaching Grant Initiative Co-PI with Dr. Edward Price and Dr. Robin Marion. "Transforming the learning environment with TabletPC-based group work and assessing the impact of digital whiteboards in an active learning physics classroom." Summer 2007 Co-PI with Prof. Edward Price (fully funded) |
$69,000 |
| National Science Foundation Grant: Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement Program: Adaptation and Implementation Track "Implementation of U.C. Davis Model Reformed Physics Course," Sole Principal Investigator: Charles J. De Leone,. Two-year project - start date August 15, 2004 (fully funded) |
$70,811 |
Publications
E. Price, C. De Leone, and N. Lasry (2010) "Comparing Educational Tools Using Activity Theory: Clickers and Flashcards," in Proceedings of the 2010 Physics Education Research Conference, C. Singh, M. Sabella, and P. Engelhardt Eds., American Institute of Physics (vol. 1289), p. 265-268
J. Nessler, G. Kephart, J. Cowell, and C. De Leone, "Varying Treadmill Speed and Inclination Affects Spontaneous Synchronization When Two Individuals Walk Side by Side," In press in the Journal of Applied Biomechanics (submitted on March 19, 2010)
J. Nessler, T. Gonzales, E. Rhoden, M. Steinbrick, and C. De Leone, "Stride Interval Dynamics are Altered When Two Individuals Walk Side by Side," in press (submitted July 22, 2010)
C. Bercovich- Guelman, C. De Leone, and E. Price (2009) "The Influence of Tablet PCs on Students: Use of Multiple Representations in Lab Reports", in Proceedings of the 2009 Physics Education Research Conference, M. Sabella, C. Henderson, & C. Singh Eds., American Institute of Physics (vol. 1179) p. 153-156
J. Nessler, C. De Leone, and S. Gilliland, "Nonlinear time series analysis of knee and ankle kinematics during side by side treadmill walking," Chaos 19, 026104 (2009)
Note: this publication was also selected to appear in the July 1, 2009 issue of Virtual Journal of Biological Physics Research.
E. Price and C. De Leone (2008) "Archiving Student Solutions with Tablet PC¿s in a Discussion-based Introductory Physics Class", in Proceedings of the 2008 Physics Education Research Conference, C. Henderson, M. Sabella, & L. Hsu Eds., American Institute of Physics (vol. 1064) p. 175-178