Re: Am I teaching what I should in HS physics?

[Tina Fanetti <FanettT@QUEST.WITCC.CC.IA.US>]

As I can see from my mailbox, lots of people have opinions on this.  But here is mine anyway.

The biggest problems with my students are
1.  They have no idea how to systematically solve a problem.  Have no idea what the problem says or what to do with it.

2.  Even when told what equation/formula to use with a problem, students don't seem to be able to know what to do with the numbers and the variables.

3.  I have yet to meet a student that can graph data and interpret data.  It is not like I have them doing graphs by hand; they can use excel.  But they have no idea about the "line of best fit"

4.  Forget about any kind of graphical interpretation.  Graphs mean very little to my students.

5. Lack of study skills.

If I were to teach a physics class in high school, I would emphasize
1.  How to read, interpret and answer word problems.
2.  Heck, while I am at it I would make sure they have the basic algebra skills to solve said problems.
3.  I would work on making graphs of data and being able to interpret the data.
4.  More on graphs and how to use them.
5.  More problem solving skills.
6.  How to study physics.  
7.  Vectors are friends.

I think the amount of material varies.  On one hand, I think there should be many topics covered quickly for the exposure but on the other hand if you cover a topic, you should cover it well and correctly.

I have students come to me and say my high school physics teacher did it this way.  Most of the time it is wrong.   

I would go towards more hands on activities too because they wont see them in college for the most part.

Most of my first year students haven't experienced anything in the way of physics so ...

All I know is that I would emphasize graphs and critical thinking skills because those are transferrable to other fields

Tina and her opinion



> > What should students have experienced as they enter a first-year college
physics course?  The question relates to students who plan to study
engineering or physical science as well as to those who do not.  I also do
not mean to confine the discussion to a list of "important topics" but
instead wish to include opinions on skills such as problem-solving and data
analysis.<<


Tina Fanetti
Physics Instructor
Western Iowa Technical Community College
4647 Stone Ave
Sioux City IA 51102
712-274-8733 ext 1429