A spinning bicycle wheel doesn’t behave the way most students expect it to. Tilt it one way while spinning, and it resists. Flip it while sitting in a swivel chair, and your body is pushed in the opposite direction. In Oregon State physics classrooms, moments like these turn abstract concepts like angular momentum into something students can see and feel.
“I’ve seen demos make students more excited about physics,” said Danielle Skinner, assistant professor of teaching in the Department of Physics. “Physics is already something that is hard for us to get students excited about, so demos are our way to make the class more exciting.”
Research shows demonstrations play an important role in increasing student understanding, participation and confidence in the material, especially in large introductory courses that serve approximately 1,500 students each term.
But not all students experience these demonstrations in the same way. Many existing demonstrations rely heavily on visual or auditory components, which can create barriers for students who are visually impaired or hard of hearing. At the same time, limited organization and an incomplete catalog of demonstrations can make it difficult for instructors to consistently incorporate them into their teaching.
This Dam Proud Day, on April 29, 2026, you can help expand access to these powerful learning experiences.
By supporting the Physics Department's accessibility initiative, you will help create and adapt demonstrations that engage multiple senses, making them more inclusive for all students. Your support will also improve the organization and accessibility of the department’s demonstration space, ensuring instructors can more easily bring these experiences into the classroom.
“It would be amazing to have an organized demo room with demos that are ready to go on a given day that are accessible to all different students,” Skinner said. “It would make faculty lives so much easier and less stressful, and it would make a huge difference to the students.”
These efforts are designed to benefit every student, not only by removing barriers, but by enhancing how physics is taught and understood.
