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[Phys-L] Re: Goals of the Introductory Course



A. Regarding what students should know:
The grade 9-12 national science education standards provide a consensus
framework that may be of use:
< http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/nses/html/6e.html>

B. Regarding the comment by Joe below and an earlier one by John Denker
"4) Sometimes I find it helpful to work backwards from the final exam.
Think of a couple of beautiful problems that you would like to put on the
final, and then ask yourself what you have to teach so that the kids will be
able to handle those problems."

These ideas are the focus of the book "Understanding by Design" by Grant
Wiggins and Jay McTighe. They discuss the Backward Design Process:
1. Identify desired results
2. Determine acceptable evidence
3. Plan learning experiences and instruction
<http://shop.ascd.org/productdisplay.cfm?productid=103055>
<http://www.ascd.org/portal/site/ascd/menuitem.b66696ac45f924addeb3ffdb62108
a0c/>

Larry Woolf
General Atomics
www.sci-ed-ga.org
www.ga.com


-----Original Message-----
From: Forum for Physics Educators On Behalf Of Joseph Bellina
Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2005 11:22 AM
Subject: Re: Goals of the Introductory Course

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but it seems to me that it is
important to establish how you will know these goals are met. Since if you
can't tell, its not a very useful goal.What data will establish with
reasonable certainty that your students have achieved the list below? Some
may be easy to assess, others may be much more difficult.
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