Monday, September 10, 2012

Another School Year Begins

Yes, another school year begins. Students arrive ready to take on kinematic equations and vectors, linear momentum and fluids. They are ready to sit, packed into a 150 student lecture hall to learn about the beauty of physics - well, as I see it. But this is a naive thought. Most of these students are taking it because it is a prerequisite for their programs they are hoping to get into physical therapy or  medical school. The smaller group are physics, chemistry and computer science majors.  The question I always struggle with is how to keep the small group interested while still teaching to larger group what they need to know? I have to emphasize how important physics and critical thinking is to the pre-group while keeping it interesting to the small group who is already finds physics fun and hope they don't lose their enthusiasm in the subject. No, I am not alone in this task, professors all over the country struggle with this question but allow me this lament for one post.

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