Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Using the ‘Beauties of Physics’ to Conquer Science Illiteracy - New York Times

Using the ‘Beauties of Physics’ to Conquer Science Illiteracy - New York Times: "Q. How do you teach undergraduate physics today?

A. I have the students read the text before the lecture. This is standard practice in the humanities, but a heresy in science. I don’t know why. I think perhaps science professors like to “present” material.

In my class, we talk about the applications of physics in everyday life. The lectures are broken up with these “concept tests,” where the students move into groups to work on a physics problem together. They talk, argue — they teach each other. "