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----- Original Message -----
From: "Digby Willard" <dwillard@milk.central.stpaul.k12.mn.us>
Suppose I have two students who work together in a lab. One student
understands the purpose of the lab better, figures out what equipment
to
use and how to set up the lab in order to give good results, analyzes
the
first set of data, and on the basis of the results proposes a second
experiment to investigate a trend in the data. The other student
contributes to the lab, but clearly doesn't have the understanding of
the
physics that the first student does. The first student doesn't turn in
a
lab report; the second one does. Which one has better ability to
"perform
physics?"
It doesn't matter how much one knows, or how skilled one is, if one
doesn't
demonstrate the knowledge and/or skill in some 'useful' way. In school,
we
use assessment tools like tests, quizzes, and assignments (lab reports in
this case) to allow students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills.
It
is also important to assess attitude and work ethic in students to help
determine how well they will do at the 'next level'. The student above
(and
those 'bright' students from another note) who don't have the discipline
to
do the assignments are poor risks for employers (whether in research,
business, or academia). Yes, some will rise above the immaturity that
leads
to 'blowing off' assignments, but perhaps the very impetus to do so will
be
the lower grade received in the course. In other words--you NEED to
penalize the person who does not turn in a report.
*********************************************
Richard W. Tarara
Associate Professor of Physics
Department of Chemistry & Physics
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, IN 46556
219-284-4664
rtarara@saintmarys.edu
Free Physics Instructional Software
Win9x, Win3.x, Dos, Mac, PowerMac versions.
Details at www.saintmarys.edu/~rtarara
*************************************************