[Phys-L] Re: Combining "Survivor" and physics???

[Robert Cohen <Robert.Cohen@PO-BOX.ESU.EDU>]

Challenge activities such as these have good points and bad points.  As
mentioned with the challenge version of the "foam activity" at
<http://www.exploratorium.edu/IFI/activities/foam/foamtext.html>,
students can get frustrated (or cheat) if they are not able to meet the
challenge and may conclude they are simply "not good at science."
Students can also become quite competitive - with competition, everyone
except the top group is a loser.  On the other hand, challenges can also
push people to do things that they never would have suspected that they
were capable of doing.  In that way they can enhance the learner's
confidence. [mostly taken from website]

____________________________________________________
Robert Cohen, Chair, Department of Physics
East Stroudsburg University; E. Stroudsburg, PA 18301
570-422-3428; www.esu.edu/~bbq

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Forum for Physics Educators
> [mailto:PHYS-L@list1.ucc.nau.edu] On Behalf Of Cindy Schwarz
> Sent: Sunday, December 04, 2005 9:28 PM
> To: PHYS-L@LISTS.NAU.EDU
> Subject: Re: Combining "Survivor" and physics???
>
> actually I think its a great idea - I bet 95% of our students
> have heard of survivor and the majority have seen it at least
> one and many actually watch it - i do a mini version of this
> in my intro class - when we do something interesting I say "
> if you are ever on survivor and this is the task you are all
> set" or something to that effect - I have never gotten blank look
>
> Cindy Schwarz
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