Re: [Phys-l] Students create a new approach to AP Physics

[Rick Tarara <rtarara@saintmarys.edu>]

Interesting that JC points to Sadler here.  I heard him talk just prior to 
his report coming out, and as I recall, his survey did not necessarily point 
to much that the PER movement could 'crow' about.  ;-)

The 'no text book' correlation with performance could have a number of 
interpretations, but one that would seem to make sense is that an instructor 
who doesn't use a text is likely to be one who is very knowledgeable and 
very committed to his/her instruction.  I would say that in such cases it is 
the instructor who is 'highly engaged' in the course.  As almost anyone who 
has taught for a while knows, covering the entire book at almost any level 
of course,  requires one to move way too fast through the material--so not 
finishing a text is a good sign that the instructor has pared down the 
coverage to be manageable (in spite of external 'standards'.)   Of course 
one can have different interpretations--the extreme dislike that students 
seem to have towards having to actually read their textbooks (lucky if I can 
get them to buy them in my Gen-Ed class) can then produce an attitudinal 
barrier towards learning---etc.  ;-)

Rick

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Clement" <clement@hal-pc.org>


> Now if they really wanted to have an easier time in college they should 
> have
> read the Philip Sadler study.  It clearly shows that certain things are
> needed for better college grades.  Two of them are frequent graphing by
> hand, and a teacher who either uses no text, or at least does not finish 
> the
> text.
>
> John M. Clement
> Houston, TX
>
> >