[Phys-L] Re: Lab Reports (was Human Error)

[Michael Edmiston <edmiston@BLUFFTON.EDU>]

> Verrry good!  Now the question is: Would a different approach empower
> more
> students?

Well... of course that is what I have struggled with for 27 years.  And
I believe the answer is no.

Notice that in my description the students who aren't getting it don't
want to get it.  They don't accept any responsibility in the learning
process.  They don't want to be in my class.  Some of them don't want to
be in my class because they are biology majors and don't believe
biologists need physics.  Some don't want to be in my class because they
don't want to be in any class.  They're in college because mom and dad
said so, or because it seemed like the thing to do.

I personally have come to the conclusion that attempts to derive a
method/formula for teaching things to students who don't care to
learn... are futile.

I have designed all the experiments my students do.  I wrote all the
handouts.  I built much of the equipment.  I have specific goals for
each experiment.  Some of the experiments are ones I've been doing the
whole 27 years, but each year almost every experiment and handout is
revised... tweaking it to see if I can get a few more students to get
it.

If anything, fewer students are getting it.  It's the change in the
student body.  Over the years, more and more students are coming to
college who do not want to go to college.  Please bear in mind that I
have always had, and continue to have, some very outstanding students.
My concern is that I am seeing fewer of them, and the gap between them
and the not-so-good is widening.

It seems to me that some educators believe they can lead the horse to
water and make him drink.  I'm leading them to the water; I'm drinking
it; I'm showing them various ways to use the water that I (and some
students) think are exciting.   Heck... I've even tried putting sugar in
it.  In the end, I think the adage was correct as originally conceived.

Sunday is commencement.  Saturday is "May Day."  Many graduates return
for May Day.  We have departmental receptions on Saturday afternoon.
I've already received several e-mails from graduates telling me they're
coming and they hope to see me Saturday afternoon.  I think they'll tell
me the same thing they've told me all along... don't change a thing.  I
haven't been taking their advice, but I'm beginning to think I should.

There are other bright spots... a student who failed physics last year,
and repeated it this year, finally started drinking the water, and will
probably get a C once I've finished grading everything.  He knows he
won't get higher than C+, but also knows he won't get lower than C-.  He
even knows the grade on his last lab report will probably not count
enough to bump him out of the solid C he has.  Last year he thought I
was impossibly hard and thought I took pleasure in failing students.  He
sent the following e-mail just before leaving campus yesterday...

"Dr. Edmiston,  I know I did a good job on the final lab report that I
just turned in today.  Attached is the Excel sheet for the lab.  Thank
you for all of your help, and have a great summer."

He has developed the integrity to do a good job on a report that he
knows will not lower his C grade even if the report grade is as low as
D.  I looked over the report, and he did do a good job.  Probably the
best all year for him.  He had gradual improvement all year long.  He
started drinking the water.  But I didn't do it.  He did.  He's not
thanking me for turning him around.  He's thanking me for taking the
time to work with him every time he came to my office to ask for help.

Michael D. Edmiston, Ph.D.
Professor of Physics and Chemistry
Bluffton University
Bluffton, OH 45817
(419)-358-3270
edmiston@bluffton.edu
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