Re: [Phys-l] Sir, Can We Do Something Easier?

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

Actually the handwriting has been on the wall for quite a while.

Most studies show that students dislike science more after every science
course they take.  This holds true for most courses before they even get
into college.  These studies have been reported in JRST quite independently
of PER.

Then there is the data from Michael Shayer's last paper that showed that
students in England have lower thinking skills by a couple of notches.  He
has data from 30 years ago and compared to recent tests using a Piagetian
test of the type used by Coletta and Phillips in their paper.  Since there
is a high correlation between the Piagetian test and FCI gain, this means
that students have decreased ability to understand physics.  I have not read
the paper, but it has been reported in the press.

Then there is the data from Joe Redish which shows that student attitudes
decrease with every physics course, except for a few studio style courses.

The article from the UK should not come as a surprise.  With the pressure
now to use high stakes testing for science, it well become even more dreary.
Students will be forced to memorize even more facts they do not digest.

Then there is the problem that colleges are not graduating enough competent
science and math teachers.  Indeed in many states the flow has reduced to a
trickle.

There is one bright spot in TX.  Univ of TX at Austin has started a program
called UTEACH which integrates training in PER and Science research
curricula into science teacher training.  It has dramatically increased the
production of new science teachers and increased the 5 year retention rate.

John M. Clement
Houston, TX


> I especially like the final quotation from Sanford Smith... "you
> shouldn't have to work that hard to make physics exciting, because ... "
> - he pauses, on the edge of the great unmentionable - "it is exciting.
> You just need to know enough about it."
>
> That seems a difficult hurdle... Getting students sufficiently into
> physics that they see the excitement.