Re: Is competence in physics as a requirement for teachers

["Paul Camp" <pjcamp@coastal.edu>]

> Whether one subscribes to the full philosophy or not, I think that 
> this is one of the strengths of many of the tools in the 
> constructivist armoury, for example:
> - pretesting students to work out a baseline on prior knowledge & 
> conceptual understanding (& expectations) in a lecture group, 
> so that the lecturer has the confidence to know that what is
> being taught is "impedance matched" to the students, and
> - and teaching styles which enables one to be "the guide on the side" 
> instead of the would-be "sage on the stage" (& target for everyone's 
> frustrations!)

> Margaret
>
>
> Dr. Margaret Mazzolini

In many places (like, for instance, here) being a "guide on the side" 
in itself makes you a target. The complaint is that you didn't 
"teach" because you didn't talk or give lots of notes to write down. 
One student last year commented to my dean that he didn't pay all 
that money to have to teach himself.

Paul J. Camp                   "The Beauty of the Universe
Assistant Professor of Physics  consists not only of unity
Coastal Carolina University     in variety but also of 
Conway, SC   29528              variety in unity.
pjcamp@coastal.edu                    --Umberto Eco
pjcamp@postoffice.worldnet.att.net    The Name of the Rose
(803)349-2227                         
fax: (803)349-2926