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

[carmelo@pacific.net.sg]

Quoting John Clement <clement@hal-pc.org>:

> As to whether they are more self directed, that is certainly a good point to
> investigate.  The accounts of Chinese learning would indicate that the
> Chinese tend to want external authority rather than internal thinking.  One
> can readily see that students often want you to tell them the answers rather
> than seeking them on their own, so the current educational system is driving
> them into novice like attitudes.

This is very true. Some students want teachers to tell them the  
answers instead of thinking on their own. They want to learn as fast  
as they can; inquiry method can be perceived as a waste of time!  
Perhaps, more students will prefer instant learning; just like some  
prefer instant coffee and fast food or “very fast food”. I have  
encountered a student who complaint about his physics teacher not  
telling the answer sooner enough, thus wasting his time… (This student  
achieved a silver medal in International Physics Olympiad; but he  
seems to focus more in “mathematical physics” than “conceptual  
physics.”)