BOCA RATON, Florida — At the University of Mount Union, students of introductory physics now benefit from the textbook “Physics: A Focused Introduction” by Dr. Colin Campbell, associate professor of physics and data science. Written with a streamlined narrative and engaging tone, the text prioritizes core ideas to help students build meaningful understanding rather than relying on formula memorization.

“The goal is always to help the student to actively engage in their own learning,” said Campbell. “Learning requires reflection, and my hope is that this book will support students in and out of the classroom.”

The adoption reflects an effort to align curriculum, pedagogy and assessment around clearly defined learning goals while emphasizing conceptual understanding over encyclopedic coverage. At Mount Union, the textbook is integrated into a course sequence in which lectures, problem-solving, and hands-on laboratory activities reinforce one another.

A key component of this implementation is the use of novel laboratory activities developed by Dr. Bob Ekey, professor of physics, in collaboration with departmental colleagues. These labs emphasize sense-making, experimental design and model testing, allowing students to actively engage in the material.

Adopted in both introductory physics courses in the 2025-2026 academic year, students have reacted positively to the text, with anonymous feedback including comments such as “I absolutely love the new textbook” and “I am not the type of person to read, but I actually like reading it.”

Mount Union offers a major in physics with concentrations in applied physics, fundamental physics, and quantum computing.