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Hi Don,
When I was a graduate student, I had to take an upper level
elective course.
I chose Atomic physics because that was my area of research at the
time. The
professor of the course was well known for being tough but fair.
He decided to do something different the year I took the course.
He gave us
several papers published on topics in Atomic Physics. He then told
us there
was something wrong with the papers. As a group, we had to figure
out what
was wrong and then correct them.
He guided us with helpful hints such as, "Look at the curve. What
do you
think could produce that curve?" Sometimes he would then leave the
room
with a comment to come and get him when we figured it out. Other
times he
would help us with questions to guide us. I learned more in that
class than
any other course I had taken in graduate school. It was applicable
to my
field and it was practical. I saw a purpose for studying quantum
mechanics
and electrodynamics. It was also the most rewarding because we
DID figure
it out.
We didn't have equipment given to us to play with, but we were
given a paper
to read. We could look at references and we had our textbooks. We
also had
each other and that was our greatest strength.
I can see how modeling could work in upper level and even graduate
level
courses.
Mary E Hing-Hickman
----- Original Message -----
From: "Polvani, Donald G." <donald.polvani@ngc.com>
To: "Forum for Physics Educators" <phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu>
Sent: Friday, August 03, 2007 11:53 AM
Subject: [Phys-l] Modeling for Physics Instruction
My education in physics occurred 40 years ago, so the simple article
below on the value of modeling as an instruction technique was new
and
of interest to me. I can see where it would be of value in
introductory
courses, but have any of you used this technique in advanced
undergraduate/graduate courses on classical mechanics, quantum
theory,
relativity, etc. It's great to discover things by yourself, but is
there really time to do this with the great number of advanced topics
which have to be covered, not to mention the practicality of modeling
advanced concepts?
See:
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/health_science/daily/
20070803_Masters_of_
spring_theory.html
Don Polvani
Northrop Grumman Corp.
Undersea Systems
Annapolis, MD
_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
https://carnot.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l
_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
https://carnot.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l