🚀 go-pugleaf

> To all of you in the trenches!
> Boy, it sure seem difficult to get this discussion started.
> I guess what I mean is do you believe that your students will "get it" by you
> showing and telling or do they need to activly construct their understanding.
>
> Cherrie has started the ball rolling.
> Who will give it a kick?
> Paul

Paul and et.al.,

Showing and telling will not do it, nor will they learn it all through lab
activities.  Because of my PSSC experiences, I try to have nearly all
fundamental ideas of physics developed through lab activities.  Then we go
over this material, review what went wrong and etc.  Then on to problems.
I still think students need to solve lots of problems and work through the
mathematical ideas of physics.  I have students who can do this.

I am a strong advocate (as you know) for microcomputer-based lab (MBL)
activites.  Data is analyzed using spreadsheets and other appropriate
graphing programs such as Graphical Analysis from Vernier.  Some demos are
used but it is my understanding that demos do little to actually teach
physics.  I agree.  Therefor I have become quite selective with
demonstrations.  I am the business of teaching not self-gratification and
I must admit, a good demo does a lot for the personal ego.

Is this enough of a punt?  Possibly more later.

LGH