Re: [Phys-l] Lecture Isn't Effective: More Evidence #2

[carmelo@pacific.net.sg]

Note that DISCOVER magazine chose The Feynman Lectures on Physics as  
one of the 25 greatest science books of all time. Besides, Feynman's  
characteristic humor and insightful explanations elevate the lectures  
to enduring classics. Inquiry based lessons may not have the  
unparalleled humor and convincing explanations to excite students in  
learning physics. Unfortunately, the *Passions* of Feynman in teaching  
physics have not been measured by physics education research; but  
passions can be seriously lacking in the so-called inquiry based  
lessons.

Another good example would be “The Walter Lewin Lectures on Physics”.  
He explains the basics of classical mechanics, electricity, magnetism,  
vibrations, waves… with *Passions*. These lectures have been used by  
more than four million students, teachers and self-learners around the  
world. The number of viewers in youtube, for example, is a good  
indicator of the success in lectures.

Try google "Inquiry-Based Learning" in youtube videos?
One may not be surprised of the relatively low number of viewers...


Best regards,
Alphonsus


Quoting CalvinKalman <Calvin.Kalman@Concordia.ca>:

> You can't argue on the basis of outliers such as Bill Gates. There   
> were undoubtedly a few of Feynman's students at Caltech who were   
> tremendously inspired by the lectures.
> Best wishes
>                      Calvin
>
> _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
> _/   Dr.Calvin S. Kalman, P. Phys.         Phone:  (514) 848-2424 xt 3284
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> _/ homepage- http://physics.concordia.ca/faculty/ckalman.php
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> _/ Editor-in-Chief book series Science & Engineering Education Sources
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> _/ 		See
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> _/                        at
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> _/ See review found in the Journal of Chemical Education Oct. 2007:
> _/ http://tinyurl.com/2rt7tj
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> _/ For the research behind this book see:
> _/ "Successful Science and Engineering Teaching: Theoretical and Learning
> _/ Perspectives (Innovation and Change in Professional Education)"
> _/			   at
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>
>
>
> On Jul 20, 2011, at 8:38 PM, carmelo@pacific.net.sg wrote:
>
> > The Feynman Lectures are at least more effective from the perspectives
> > of faculty members and graduate students.
> >
> > Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates believes that if he had been able to
> > watch Feynman lecture on physics in 1964 his life might have played
> > out differently.
> > (http://tierneylab.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/15/gates-puts-feynman-lectures-online/) He admitted that if he had watched the lectures earlier in his life he might have become a physicist instead of a   
> > software
> > entrepreneur.
> >
> >
> > Best regards,
> > Alphonsus
> >
> > p.s. Walter H.G. Lewin's lectures can be quite effective too.