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Re: Can Demonstrations Promote Learning? (was "demonstrations (picking up a thread from a few weeks ago)"



I am sure that my response (1996) was questioning the scientific
validity of the particular study which drew this conclusion (that
lecture demos were a waste of time).

PER has lots of buzzwords and educationalese for subsets of what are,
in fact, one common conclusion: "Passive learning does not work,
active learning does".

If you view lecture demonstrations (or any other teaching activity)
in that context, then the more students participate in their own
learning process, they more they retain. Well, duhhh!

It has taken a whole cottage industry to wake up *physics
teachers/faculty* to what should have been obvious. The students who
only listen to the music in the background are not learning how to
sing.

In the lecture demo performing crowd there resides an enormous cadre
of passive learning gurus, making it little wonder when reports
conclude that demos do not work... So, if you don't engage your
students, they will get very little from *ANY* teaching technique you
attempt, and lecture demonstrations are no different.

Smile, best wishes...Karl
--
Dr. Karl I. Trappe Desk (512) 471-4152
Lecture Demonstration Office Office (512) 471-5411
Physics Department, Mail Stop C-1600 Home (512) 264-1616
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas 78712-1081