Teaching Physics: Figuring out What Works

JAN 01, 1999

Research on three questions is improving instruction: What is involved in understanding physics? What do students bring to physics classes? How do they respond to what they are taught?

DOI: 10.1063/1.882568

Edward F. Redish

Richard N. Steinberg

Physics faculty members often come away from teaching college‐level introductory courses deeply dismayed about how little their students have learned. The growing importance of having a workforce that is literate in science and technology makes this situation more than an academic problem.

This article is only available in PDF format

References

1. J. Rigden, in The Changing Role of Physics Department in Modern Universities, E. F. Redish, J. S. Rigden, eds., AIP Conf. Proc. 399, American Institute of Physics, Woodbury, New York (1997), vol. 1, p. 133.
R. C. Hilborn, Am. J. Phys. 65, 175 (1997).https://doi.org/AJPIAS
2. For a comprehensive overview and set of references, see L. C. McDermott, E. F. Redish, Am. J. Phys., to be published; preprint available from Redish (redish@physics.umd.edu.).
3. L. C. McDermott, P. S. Shaffer, Am. J. Phys. 60, 994 (1992); https://doi.org/AJPIAS
erratum, L. C. McDermott, P. S. Shaffer, 61, 81 (1993),
P. S. Shaffer, L. C. McDermott, Am. J. Phys. 60, 1003 (1992).https://doi.org/AJPIAS
4. R. N. Steinberg, M. S. Sabella, Phys. Teach. 35, 150 (1997). https://doi.org/PHTEAH
T. O’Brien Pride, S. Vokos, L. C. McDermott, Am. J. Phys. 66, 47 (1998).https://doi.org/AJPIAS
5. An extensive review of the problem solving literature can be found in D. P. Maloney, in Handbook of Research on Science Teaching and learning, D. Gabel, ed., Macmillan, New York (1993). p. 327.
6. J. H. Larkin, F. Reif, Eur. J. Sci. Educ. 1, 191 (1979).https://doi.org/EJSEDA
7. L. C. McDermott, Am. J. Phys. 59, 301 (1991).https://doi.org/AJPIAS
8. B. S. Ambrose. P. S. Shaffer. R. N. Steinberg, L. C. McDermott, Am. J. Phys., to be published; preprint available from Steinberg (rstein@physics.umd.edul.).
9. L. C. McDermott, P. S. Shaffer and the Physics Education Group at the University of Washington, Tutorials in Introductory Physics, Prentice Hall, New York (1998).
10. D. Hestenes, M. Wells, G. Swackhammer, Phys. Teach. 30, 141 (1992).https://doi.org/PHTEAH
11. E. F. Redish, J. M. Saul, R. N. Steinberg, Am. J. Phys. 65, 45 (1997), J. M. Saul, “Beyond Problem Solving: Evaluating Introductory Physics Courses through the Hidden Curriculum,” PhD dissertation, University of Maryland, College Park (1998.
12. D. Hammer, Cognition and Instruction 12, 151 (1984).
13. E. F. Redish, J. M. Saul, R. N. Steinberg, Am. J. Phys. 66, 212 (1998).https://doi.org/AJPIAS
14. E. F. Redish, Am. J. Phys. 62, 796 (1994).https://doi.org/AJPIAS
15. The Changing Role of Physics Departments in Modern Universities, E. F. Redish, J. S. Rigden, eds., AIP Conf. Proc. 399, American Institute of Physics, Woodbury, New York (1997) vol. 2.
16. L. C. McDermott, P. S. Shaffer, M. D. Somers, Am. J. Phys. 62, 46 (1994).https://doi.org/AJPIAS
17. P. W. Laws with contributing authors R. J. Boyle, P. J. Cooney, K. L. Laws, J. W. Luetzelschwab, D. R. Sokoloff, R. K. Thornton, Workshop Physics Activity Guide, Wiley, New York (1997).
18. R. R. Hake, Am. J. Phys. 66, 64 (1998).https://doi.org/AJPIAS

More about the Authors

Edward F. Redish. University of Maryland, College Park.

Richard N. Steinberg. University of Maryland, College Park.