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Re: Problem solving or playtime?

On Mon, 08 Apr 1996 17:20:39 Cindy Gentry wrote:
I am a second year high school physics teacher and I recently had an
evaluation conversation with my boss and it was suggested that I get
away from using the textbook. There are those that feel that classtime
should be spent on more outside activities and labs and computer work.
I agree that all of these things are very important, but I also know as
an undergraduate physics major that students need to know how to solve
problems. I can take my student's high school text and my freshman
college text and the two compare very closely. Why then would I want
to spend more time away from the text? I would like to hear your input
whether you are a high school teacher or a college professor.


One "problem with problem solving" is that students often develop
strategies for getting solutions which are "correct" without understanding
anything at all about the physics. Students (and faculty) need a solid
base for conceptual reasoning which can then be applied to problem
solving. Many texts, even those which claim to stress conceptual
understanding and conceptual problem solving skills, still lend themselves
to the "let me solve this by finding a similar example in the chapter"
method, followed by "plug and chug".

That's why students should spend more time doing physics and less time
reading about physics.
--
George Spagna ******************************************
Department of Physics * *
Randolph-Macon College * "Imagination is more important *
P.O. Box 5005 * than knowledge." *
Ashland, VA 23005-5505 * *
* - Albert Einstein *
phone: (804) 752-7344 * *
Internet: gspagna@rmc.edu ******************************************