Re: [Phys-l] Student engagement--GAIN

["John Clement" <clement@hal-pc.org>]

The paper about the developed materials is at:
http://srri.umass.edu/publications/gerace-1999mdc

Here is a specific problem that students in general either find impossible
to do, or impossible in a short time to do by algebra.  So when you give
this as an IN CLASS activity you let them spin their wheels in part B for a
while, and then tell them to move on so they can get 2 out of 3 methods.
http://srri.umass.edu/files/mop_samples/Act016.pdf
There was as I recall a paper on just this problem.  If you really want them
to do algebra, you hint that they can use the graph to help them write the
appropriate equations.

Subsequent activities contain some more problems where graphs are wonderful
ways to solve them, and equations often cause problems.  I would suggest
buying a few of the books to see what they are doing if you really want to
pursue this.

John M. Clement
Houston, TX

> > Actually there are some problems which
> > are very difficult using equations, and are much easier using
> > either graphs
> > or motion maps.  This type of problem promotes mistakes in algebra,
> > but the
> > students always get a correct answer using alternate methods.
>
> can you give some examples of these sorts of questions?