Re: [Phys-l] Reading Hestenes

[Jack Uretsky <jlu@hep.anl.gov>]

I'd like to second the recommendation for Arons' book <A Guide to the 
Teaching of Introductory Physics>.  Arons tells us, in the intro and 
Chapter 1, the words that we use that many entering college students 
simply do not understand.  After reading this I began paying close 
attention to the students use and understanding of the words - by golly, 
the book was right on!  I had just not put it together before.

I'll give one example, the word "ratio".  I was aware that students were 
not doing well on an early problem where they were asked to find a ratio 
of two quantities.  After reading Arons, I paid closer attention to what 
the students were doing wrong.  They were calculating the difference of 
the two quantities, rather than the ratio.

I think that the positive lesson from investigations into physics teaching 
is that it is important to keep the students feeding back what they think 
they are learning.  That feedback provides a continuing check on both the 
teacher and the student.  But, hey, that's just what good communication is 
all about, isn't it?
					Regards,
						Jack


On Tue, 5 Dec 2006, Savinainen Antti wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Bob asked about Hestenes' papers and PER articles in general.
> Well, here is my take but I must warn you that I'm a believer :-).
> I think that Hestenes (and his co-workers) has done fundamental
> work in PER so his papers might well be worth reading. If hard
> pressed I'd recommend the following papers (they can be retrieved
> from <http://modeling.asu.edu/R&E/Research.html>):
>
> I. Halloun and D. Hestenes, The Initial Knowledge State of
> College Physics Students, Am. J. Phys. 53, 1043-1055 (1985).
>
> D. Hestenes, M. Wells, and G. Swackhamer, Force Concept Inventory, The Physics Teacher .
>
> D. Hestenes and M. Wells, A Mechanics Baseline Test,
> The Physics Teacher. 30: 159-165 (1992).
>
> However, a general introduction to PER might be a good starting point. Here are a few books which I think are well suited for
> this purpose:
>
> Randall D. Knight (2004): Five Easy Lessons: Strategies for Successful Physics Teaching.
>
> -- Perhaps the easiest choice for a newcomer
>
> Edward F. Redish (2003): Teaching Physics with Physics Suite.
> This book is available on-line in <http://www2.physics.umd.edu/~redish/Book/>.
>
> -- attached CD ROM is useful so if you like the book chapters
> above it might be worth bying the real thing (it is not expensive
> at all)
>
> Eric Mazur (1997): Peer Instruction. This book can be retrieved
> from <http://mazur-www.harvard.edu/publications.php?function=search&topic=8>
>
> -- this is a classic; some people might find this quite
> convincing :-)
>
> Arnold B. Arons (1997): Teaching Introductory Physics.
>
> -- this is worth reading for many times! Some info and opinions available in <http://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Introductory-Physics-Arnold-Arons/dp/0471137073>
>
> Finally, I'd like to note that many if not all the above
> mentioned authors have done real physics research as well as
> physics teaching. Of course, they have done original PER work.
> So these people are no "arm-chair theorists". It is also
> worth remembering that the physics involved in the listed
> sources is mostly introductory physics.
>
> I hope this helps.
>
> Regards,
>
> Antti
>
> Antti Savinainen, Ph.D., B.Ed.
> Senior Lecturer in Physics and Mathematics
> Kuopio Lyseo High School
> Finland
> E-mail: <antti.savinainen@kuopio.fi>
> Website: <http://kotisivu.mtv3.fi/physics/>

--
"Trust me.  I have a lot of experience at this."
		General Custer's unremembered message to his men,
		just before leading them into the Little Big Horn Valley