Re: [Phys-l] Physics First

["John M Clement" <clement@hal-pc.org>]

The verdict is very much out on physics first.  Apparently it is a 
disaster in one California district where the admin tried to force 
teachers to use Active Physics and the teachers fell back on 
conventional instruction.  However, there are schools where they used 
Modeling and students actually learned more physics than they do in 
the Senior year.  It may be that physics first when used with research 
based instruction may work better with 9the graders before they have 
hardened attitudes than it works with seniors.

So the word is that it can't be forced onto the schools if it is to 
work.

John M. Clement
Houston, TX

> > Here's a modest suggestion:  If you're going to try the 
> > physics-first
> > idea, don't let anyone call the course "high school physics". 
> > Instead
> > call it "Pre-Physics" or something like that.
>
> It doesn't disguise the bigotry towards conceptual level physics as 
> not 
> being 'real' physics.
>
> Rick