Re: [Phys-l] crutches versus shoes

[William Robertson <wrobert9@ix.netcom.com>]

Students, of all ages, also like what they understand. If the students  
experience converting units as a meaningless exercise, of course they  
won't like it. If it's tied to understanding, they just might like it.  
Hope it's clear I'm not advocating spending a great deal of time on  
converting units. If you have to spend a lot of time on that, you're  
not doing it the right way. Everything in its place, and all toward  
the goal of understanding concepts. It troubles me to think of the  
large number of students who have no idea what it means to really  
understand science and math.

A prof of mine used to say, "You like what you understand, and you  
understand what you like." He wasn't a great prof in many respects,  
but he got that one right.

Bill



On Apr 18, 2011, at 7:15 PM, Anthony Lapinski wrote:

> Many students tell me they disliked chemistry as there was way too  
> much
> emphasis on "converting units" (the entire year in chemistry). They  
> wanted
> to see more "practical" chemistry. I understand what they are  
> saying...