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Re: [Phys-l] Reading Hestenes



At 1:23 PM -0500 12/5/06, Bob LaMontagne wrote:
The chemistry department at our college has hired a temporary instructor who
has an extensive background not only in the research related to teaching
chemistry but also some background in PER.

We are being harangued at lunchtime about how we all have to mend our ways
and listen to the PER people in terms of restructuring the goals and the
methodology used in our Intro to Physics classes.

I have not had the time nor the inclination to wade through PER material.
For those of you who have, did you find it worth the time involved? Are
there particular papers or studies by Hestenes that will give me concepts
that will have demonstrable positive effects in my Intro courses? Are there
other people whose papers are worth reading?

I would especially like to hear from non PER people who have had personal
experience with this - instead of being beat over the head by true believers
- as I am currently by this new instructor :-)

Bob at PC


I have taught the course for 39 years and conducted many experiments. One prof was not convinced until I performed a double blind experiment. He taught two sections and we divided four concepts. Each class was an experimental group for two concepts. The instructor, who did not believe in PER taught the other two concepts using "traditional" methods. For each class, when they used PER methods students performed markedly better than the other class.

Details about how to incorporate PER methods are found in my book coming out this month:

<http://www.ankerpub.com>
Contents:
1. New Releases
2.Ordering Information


Successful Science and Engineering Teaching in Colleges and Universities

<http://r.vresp.com/?AnkerPublishing/531f437484/734316/ba85496088/91e0d4a> Calvin S. Kalman

Based on the author's work in science and engineering educational research, this book offers broad, practical strategies for teaching science and engineering courses and describes how faculty can provide a learning environment that helps students comprehend the nature of science, understand science concepts, and solve problems in science courses.

Forthcoming December 2006

6 x 9 | 176 pp | 2007 | paper | ISBN 978-1-933371-16-0 | $32.95

<http://r.vresp.com/?AnkerPublishing/531f437484/734316/ba85496088/91e0d4a> For more details or to order





<http://r.vresp.com/?AnkerPublishing/8ed9f34af4/734316/ba85496088/91e0d4a> Ordering Information


Orders can be placed by institutional purchase order, check, or credit card (American Express, MasterCard, or Visa). Orders under $50.00 must be prepaid. Shipping and handling is $6 for the first item and $2 for each additional item. Over $500, please contact us. Outside the US is additional. To place orders:

Order by Mail/Fax/Phone:
Anker Publishing Company, Inc.
PO Box 2247
Williston, VT 05495

Phone: 877-212-3838 (toll free)
Fax: 802-864-7626

<http://www.ankerpub.com>Place secure credit card orders on our web site

For more information contact:
Anker Publishing Company, Inc.
PO Box 249
Bolton, MA 01740-0249

Voice: 978-779-6190
Fax: 978-779-6366
Email: info@ankerpub.com

<http://r.vresp.com/?AnkerPublishing/3b566a8085/734316/ba85496088/91e0d4a>
--

Best wishes

Calvin


_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
_/ Calvin S. Kalman, P. Phys. Phone: (514) 848-2424 xt 3284
_/ Professor,Department of Physics Fax: (514) 848-2828
_/ Fellow, Science College
_/ Member, Centre for the Study of Learning and Performance
_/ Concordia University
_/ Montreal, QC H4B 1R6 Calvin.Kalman@concordia.ca
_/
_/ Also Adjunct Professor Department of Educational
_/ and Counseling Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
_/
_/ _/ homepage- http://physics.concordia.ca/faculty/kalman.html
_/
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_//_/_/