[Phys-l] A conversation with Eric Mazur (Improved Version).

[Richard Hake <rrhake@earthlink.net>]

Some subscribers may be interested in an improved and slightly 
expanded version of a previous post "A conversation with Eric Mazur" 
[Hake (2007a)].

The abstract of the improved version [Hake (2007b)] reads:

*************************************************
ABSTRACT: I discuss a recent New York Times report by Claudia Dreifus 
(2007) titled  "A Conversation With Eric Mazur: Using the 'Beauties 
of Physics' to Conquer Science Illiteracy."  During the conversation 
Mazur states: "I did what everyone else did: lectures. And the 
feedback was positive.. . . . when I gave them . .  [the 
Halloun-Hestenes (HH) (1985a) concept-based exam]. . . about  half 
had no clue as to what Newtonian mechanics were about."  Mazur then 
shifted to "Peer Instruction," an interactive-engagement type of 
pedagogy that resulted in much larger pre-to-post test gains on the 
HH test. Are there valid and consistently reliable diagnostic tests 
of conceptual understanding  in other disciplines (developed by 
experts in those disciplines), comparable to the HH test in physics, 
that might be used to gauge the need for, and the effects of,  reform 
pedagogy?   Yes, sources of references to high quality conceptual 
tests in Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Engineering, 
Geoscience, and Math are given for instructors who may wish to 
formatively assess the cognitive impact of their courses by means of 
pre/post testing.
*************************************************

To see the complete improved version simply click on 
<http://tinyurl.com/2zo3pz>.

BTW, there may also be some interest in  "Over Sixty Academic 
Discussion Lists: List Addresses and URL's for Archives & Search 
Engines" [Hake (2007c)].

Richard Hake, Emeritus Professor of Physics, Indiana University
24245 Hatteras Street, Woodland Hills, CA 91367
<rrhake@earthlink.net>
<http://www.physics.indiana.edu/~hake>
<http://www.physics.indiana.edu/~sdi>

REFERENCES
Hake, R.R. 2007a. "A conversation with Eric Mazur," online at 
<http://listserv.nd.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0707&L=pod&O=D&P=8458>. Post 
of 22 Jul 2007 15:49:29-0700 to AP-Physics, AP-Calculus, Chemed-L, 
Physhare, Phys-L, PhysLrnR, POD, Math-Teach, Math-Learn, & RUME.

Hake, R.R. 2007b. "A Conversation With Eric Mazur," post of 23 Jul 
2007 17:10:06-0700 to AERA-L; online at <http://tinyurl.com/2zo3pz>.

Hake, R.R. 2007c. "Over Sixty Academic Discussion Lists: List 
Addresses and URL's for Archives & Search Engines," online at 
<http://www.physics.indiana.edu/~hake/ADL-B.pdf> (580  kB), or 
<http://www.physics.indiana.edu/~hake/ADL-C.pdf>, or (if both fail) 
as ref. 49 at <http://www.physics.indiana.edu/~hake>.