Some subscribers to Phys-L might be interested in a recent
discussion-list post "Move Physics Demonstrations From the Lecture
Hall Into the Lab! [Hake (2012)]. The abstract reads:
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ABSTRACT: In response to my post "Should the History of Science Be
Rated X" at <http://bit.ly/MbTWue>, PERTG's Lynda Williams wrote
(paraphrasing):
"Drop a book and page of paper side by side: the book hits the floor
first. Aristotle was right!
Then wad up the paper and repeat the experiment: the book and paper
hit the floor at the same time. Newton is right! This is one of the
best physics demos."
It would be even better if brought into the lab for students to
perform as in Section X, "Motion of Falling Bodies," in Socratic
Dialogue Inducing Lab #2 [Hake (1998c)] at <http://bit.ly/mSCxV4>.
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"I am deeply convinced that a statistically significant improvement
would occur if more of us learned to listen to our students.. . . . .
.By listening to what they say in answer to carefully phrased,
leading questions, we can begin to understand what does and does not
happen in their minds, anticipate the hurdles they encounter, and
provide the kind of help needed to master a concept or line of
reasoning without simply 'telling them the answer.'....Nothing is
more ineffectually arrogant than the widely found teacher attitude
that 'all you have to do is say it my way, and no one within hearing
can fail to understand it.'.. . . . . .Were more of us willing to
relearn our physics by the dialog and listening process I have
described, we would see a discontinuous upward shift in the quality
of physics teaching. I am satisfied that this is fully within the
competence of our colleagues; the question is one of humility and
desire."
- Arnold Arons (1974)
REFERENCES [URL shortened by <http://bit.ly/> and accessed on 18 July 2012.
Arons, A. 1974. "Addendum to 'Toward Wider Public Understanding of
Science', " Am. J. Phys. 42(2): 157; online to subscribers at
<http://bit.ly/q0woZT>.
Hake, R.R. 2012. "Move Physics Demonstrations From the Lecture Hall
Into the Lab!"
online on the OPEN AERA-L archives at <http://bit.ly/P3EUZ9>. Post of
18 Jul 2012 22:38:42-0700 to AERA-L and Net-Gold. The abstract and
link to the complete post are being transmitted to several discussion
lists and are also on my blog "Hake'sEdStuff" at
<http://bit.ly/MtEaxo> with a provision for comments.