Re: [Phys-l] Students' READING abilities

[Brian Whatcott <betwys1@sbcglobal.net>]

Folkerts, Timothy J wrote:
> I tried something different in class today.  I modeled what is required
> to read the text.  
>
> From a quick survey at the outset, it was clear that such an activity
> might be helpful. ....
>
> So, I sat down amidst the students (just 7 in Engineering Physics II)
> and read thru parts of the text that we were studying - picking out a
> few paragraphs, equations and figures to concentrate on.  (Fortunately
> most had brought their texts!) Pretty much every sentence I stopped and
> asked someone for a response - to paraphrase; to define words; to
> relate the words to an equation; etc. ...
> It was slow going. ...
> In the end, most students seemed to think it was a good day and I got
> mostly positive feedback ....
> Tim F
>   
That positive feedback you mentioned would emanate not only from the 
students...
I am encouraged that this is done.  But not enough, I expect.
You would do the readership here a service by asking students for their 
recall of the text that you treated this way, compared with the text you 
treated just previous to this mode.

Brian W