Comments on: Stable and unstable lectures http://arjendu.wordpress.com/2008/04/17/stable-and-unstable-lectures/ A professional journal: As a physicist, a teacher, and in a few other roles Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:53:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: Jasper Palfree http://arjendu.wordpress.com/2008/04/17/stable-and-unstable-lectures/#comment-111 Jasper Palfree Sat, 19 Apr 2008 01:41:02 +0000 http://arjendu.wordpress.com/?p=46#comment-111 As a physics undergrad, I can definitely say that I think you are on the right track. It took years for me to realize that the old-style method of lecturing was extremely inefficient for learning. Unfortunately, it's very difficult to engage students in this kind of interactive method of teaching. I recently had a teacher that employed very similar methods to those you've described, and I noticed similar difficulties. We are out of our comfort zone in that kind of environment, but it's worth it. The only way students will get used to it is to be exposed to it more! An upside, however, is that it really builds the undergrad community. Especially if you get a good mix of confused students and not-so-confused students and ask those who understand the concept to explain it to those who don't. I found this act of conversing with my peers actually made things more comfortable in the classroom in certain circumstances. Other than that, all I can offer you is encouragement. I really think you've got some good ideas about teaching/learning. As a physics undergrad, I can definitely say that I think you are on the right track. It took years for me to realize that the old-style method of lecturing was extremely inefficient for learning. Unfortunately, it’s very difficult to engage students in this kind of interactive method of teaching. I recently had a teacher that employed very similar methods to those you’ve described, and I noticed similar difficulties. We are out of our comfort zone in that kind of environment, but it’s worth it. The only way students will get used to it is to be exposed to it more!

An upside, however, is that it really builds the undergrad community. Especially if you get a good mix of confused students and not-so-confused students and ask those who understand the concept to explain it to those who don’t. I found this act of conversing with my peers actually made things more comfortable in the classroom in certain circumstances.

Other than that, all I can offer you is encouragement. I really think you’ve got some good ideas about teaching/learning.

]]> By: World of Science News : Blog Archive : Stability and Pedagogy [Uncertain Principles] http://arjendu.wordpress.com/2008/04/17/stable-and-unstable-lectures/#comment-110 World of Science News : Blog Archive : Stability and Pedagogy [Uncertain Principles] Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:37:26 +0000 http://arjendu.wordpress.com/?p=46#comment-110 [...] Out in Minnesota, Arjendu is expressing high-level confusion about the business of lecturing: [...] [...] Out in Minnesota, Arjendu is expressing high-level confusion about the business of lecturing: [...]

]]> By: Michael Williams http://arjendu.wordpress.com/2008/04/17/stable-and-unstable-lectures/#comment-109 Michael Williams Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:05:35 +0000 http://arjendu.wordpress.com/?p=46#comment-109 I don't have any pointers as I teach within the the Oxford tutorial system, which has very little flexibility of this kind (although the very small classes ~2 students do allow flexibility of a different kind). I just wanted to say I really enjoyed this post and it's got me thinking about my own approach. Thanks! I don’t have any pointers as I teach within the the Oxford tutorial system, which has very little flexibility of this kind (although the very small classes ~2 students do allow flexibility of a different kind). I just wanted to say I really enjoyed this post and it’s got me thinking about my own approach. Thanks!

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