There are others who recommend discussing some of the applications fi=
rst, to motivate the discussions of the underlying science. As a st=
udent, I preferred to see an application early on, so that I could se=
e how the new underlying principle was used.
=20
Vickie Frohne
________________________________
=46rom: Forum for Physics Educators on behalf of Dan Crowe
Sent: Thu 2/24/2005 3:36 PM
To: PHYS-L@LISTS.NAU.EDU
Subject: Re: In the Private Universe
How can anyone have a decent understanding of global warming without
understanding seasons? How can anyone have a decent understanding of
semiconductors or liquid crystal displays without understanding elect=
ric
fields?
I'm reading Arnold Arons' _Teaching_Introductory_Physics_ (Wiley, 199=
7),
and just the other day I read Section 12.7 (pp.361-2) in which he
recommends against discussing applications of science if the students
lack an understanding of the underlying science.
Daniel Crowe
Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics
Ardmore Regional Center
dcrowe@sotc.org