Re: Lecture Demonstrations

[trappe@PHYSICS.UTEXAS.EDU (Trappe)]

Nick writes:
The point is that the set
> of printed works that appeal to us as professionals may not have much
> overlap with the set of printed works that help students learn
> physics.  I stress to my students every year that reading the textbook
> is not where most of their learning is going to take place anyway -
> but that is cold comfort to the interested and motivated students who
> look for insight and inspiration in the printed materials for the
> course - as I did with Reif - and find none.
>    I _still_ hate thermo after all these years ...

Nick Nguilber's recent post on textbooks applies equally well to
demonstrations.  It is not the subject, but *how it is presented* that
makes the difference.

I argued, at the time the work was presented by the U Washington folks,
that the lack of learning from demonstrations was *not* in the use of
demonstrations, but in the ineptitude of the presenter.  Credentials within
the community do *not* make your presentation any better for the neophite.
This is true for texts  and for demonstrations.

For the "classics" in demonstrations to get anything across, the presenter
*must* prepare.  All too often, the presenter walks in cold, makes a fool
of himself in front of the class, and wonders *why the students don't get
it*.

In fact, if you want to see a faculty member pleased with himself/herself
(and therefore with his support personnel), just set up an esoteric
demonstration that tickles the fancy at a high enough level.  But don't
expect the students to get the same thing out of the demo.  A demonstration
that teaches the concept is not necessarily appealing to the amusement
level of the instructor who has been teaching the course for years.  The
same is true for textbooks--and that should be considered in our adoption
process!

Karl

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Dr. Karl I. Trappe                        Desk:(512)471-4152
Physics Dept-Mail Stop C1600              Office: (512) 471-5411
The University of Texas at Austin         FAX: (512) 471-9637 (other building)
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