Re: Projectile Motion

[Rick Tarara <rtarara@SAINTMARYS.EDU>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Green" <JMGreen@SISNA.COM>



> 1) Don't scream.
>
> 2) Don't give them a formula sheet.  If you do, they will figure that the
> physics in on the sheet rather than in their heads -- not just your
> students do this -- all students do this -- at least the algebra class
does
> this -- they spend the night before the test cramming and memorizing and
> think they understand the physics.   Physics is conceptual not
> mathematical.  In class ask them conceptual questions -- give multi-part
> questions of the test and start with a conceptual question of two then ask
> for  a calculation.
Let them have a 'cheat sheet' but let them make it up themselves.  Collect
these after the test and forbid the inclusion of sample problems on the
sheets.  This eliminates the 'memorize the formulas' mode of cramming.  They
will still try to memorize all their homework and all the example problems,
but you need to be explicit that this will NOT really help--then the hard
part--write exam problems where it won't.  Stress that you want them to be
able to apply the knowledge on their cheat sheets to NEW situations as will
be defined in the test problems.  It helps if they have done homework
problems that can't be boiler-plated from examples in the book.

Rick

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Richard W. Tarara
Professor of Physics
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, Indiana
rtarara@saintmarys.edu
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