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



From Feynman's 1963 preface to his lectures (third last para, p5 in my Feb77 6th printing of Vol I):
"The question, of course, is how well this experiment has succeeded. My own point of view -- which however, does not seem to be shared by most of the people who worked with the students -- is pessimistic. I don't think I did very well by the students. When I look at the way the majority of the students handled the problems on the examinations, I think that the system is a failure."

From last para in Preface:
"It's impossible to learn very much by simply sitting in a lecture, or even by simply doing problems that are assigned."

All quotes R. Feynman, The Feynman Lectures

Dan MacIsaac, Associate Professor of Physics, SUNY-Buffalo State College
222SciBldg BSC, 1300 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo NY 14222 USA 1-716-878-3802
<macisadl@buffalostate.edu> <http://PhysicsEd.BuffaloState.edu>
Physics Graduate Coordinator

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.


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

The Feynman lectures were never effective. Even Feynman admitted
that they didn't work. The books were mostly bought by faculty
members and graduate students.


Best wishes

Calvin


_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
_/ Dr. Calvin S. Kalman P. Phys. Phone: (514) 848-2424 xt 3284
_/ Professor,Department of Physics Fax: (514) 848-2828
_/ Principal, Science College
_/ Concordia University
_/ Montreal, QC H4B 1R6 Calvin.Kalman@concordia.ca


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