Re: unexpected obstacles

["Michael N. Monce" <mnmon@CONNCOLL.EDU>]

On Thu, 19 Dec 2002, Scott Goelzer wrote:

> I have had the same problems with students and it is getting worse.
> IMHO the source of the problem is that few students have been exposed
> to failure. To protect their self esteem, any product is complemented.
> Students are rarely told - 'this is wrong, do it again' (the short
> version of the sci method).  This has lead to a fascinating and sudden
> change in student culture.


        I didn't want to open this can of worms, but I too highy suspect
that we are reaping the rewards of the "self esteem" movement in education
from the late 80's and through the 90's.

> What have I been doing? I have found the outcome based labs are very
> effective with both groups. These are labs such as the classic
> 'calculate where to place the cup so the projectile lands in it'. There
> is a definite, concrete standard of success. No opinions or personal
> judgments. Any lab can be made outcome based.


        This is a really good idea, Scott. I'm going to give it a try with
my next intro. physics cours labs.  However, do you have ideas on how to
handle the same problem in an upper level theory course?

                         Mike Monce
                         Connecticut College