Re: [Phys-l] Textbooks vs multimedia

[Jack Uretsky <jlu@hep.anl.gov>]

Hi-
	You've explained what you do, but I miss from your posting any 
evidence of what your students get out of all this.
				Regards,
					Jack

On Mon, 9 Feb 2009, Fouad Ajami wrote:

> While recognizing the limitations of textbooks, I am not that harsh in
> my judgement as others in this list.
> Maybe, because I personally know one author who spent years preparing
> his text, and this had serious repercussions on his health, and his
> family life.
> I do not have the time or the inclination to "write extensive notes" to
> my students, as has ben suggested. On badly written chapters (the worst
> are chapters/sections about work and energy in Mechanics, and about
> potential in E & M) I just explain what needs to be done, and provide
> succint notes.
> I   include in tests, (for about 20-25% of the marks), questions that
> must be answered in words, diagrams and equations, rather than numbers.
> Invariably, the class average on these is worse than the numerical
> problems.
> For 2nd and 3rd semester classes, I ask students to make a 10 minute
> presentation on some aspect of the course, or some technology related to
> what we do. These start about the 6th week. It takes away time from
> formal teaching, but it amounts to an oral test, when I can find out if
> the students really understand what they are talking about.
> Fouad I. Ajami
> Physics Department
> Champlain College
> 900 Riverside Drive,
> St Lambert, QC, Canada, J4P 3P2
> Tel: 450-672-7360-272
> Fax: 450-672-9299
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Forum for Physics Educators
> Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
> https://carnot.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l

--
"Trust me.  I have a lot of experience at this."
		General Custer's unremembered message to his men,
		just before leading them into the Little Big Horn Valley