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Re: AP students

Hi Tim-
We seem to be on the same wavelength. With respect to the
details-
On Thu, 26 Apr 2001, Tim Burgess wrote:

On Tue, 24 Apr 2001, Jack Uretsky wrote:
the teaching of problem solving. This puzzled me. I don't know how
to do problem solving without understanding concepts. But it all became
clear with John's use of the word algorithms. Then I remembered that
there are teachers who do teach physics as a set of algorithms - formulas
to be dusted off and used in various circumstances.
For shame! Although there are unfortunately texts that
encourage this kind of teaching.

Do you think that the "set of algorithms" approach to problems solving
is limited only to the students of teachers and/or books where this
shameful approach is taken? If so then I disagree. The problem
solving you describe reflects your expertise. You may "not know how to do
problem solving without understanding" but I think many students probably
do get "answers marked correct" without understanding.
Yes, their teachers mark their answers "correct" without asking
how the student got the answer.

In my review of Hake's writings concerning the FCI I get the
impression that many students who pass the best of courses with
the finest of teachers are apparently doing so through the use
of the "algorithmic buffet" [my label of your description].
You are assuming that the FCI actually tests the conceptual
understanding, an assumption that I think is ussupported by such evidence
as Hake is able to muster. But, in his defense, the relevant proposition
may very well be incapable of proof.

The FCI items
students miss at the end of the typical introductory physics course
appear to indicate that many students may be passing through such courses
without the full understanding that we would want for our students.
You seem (probably for good reason) very confident that this is not
true for your students.
Au contraire, especially with students who have had some physics
elsewhere. But I work hard to try to persuade them that it is easier
to work from conceptual understanding than from collecting algorithms.
I have gotten little support in this enterprise from fellow
teachers.

The day to day exchanges I hear of my students
fail to make me so confident. I guess that is why I read the postings
of phys-l.

Tim Burgess
UMS-Wright Preparatory School


--
Franz Kafka's novels and novella's are so Kafkaesque that one has to
wonder at the enormity of coincidence required to have produced a writer
named Kafka to write them.
Greg Nagan from "The Metamorphosis" in
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