Someone asked about physics first some time ago... -ML
------ Forwarded Message From: Richard Hake <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: PHYSLRNR - PHYSICS LEARNING RESEARCH LIST <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2001 11:01:29 -0700 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [PHYSLRNR] Physics for Ninth Graders? In her 9/18/01 OpenPhys <http://www.topica.com/lists/openphys/read> post "Hello" Michelle Jeanmard asked: "What is the best way to present the idea of learning physics, and all it entails, to a ninth grader?" Michelle has raised an excellent question, but since I've not been near a precollege class in 90 years, I can't answer it. However, in my opinion: 1. "Physics" should not start abruptly in the ninth grade. Instead it and its way of thinking should be an integral part of P-8 education (P = preschool). 2. Michelle's question might be better directed to more appropriate discussion lists such as e.g.: a. Phys-L with archives at <http://mailgate.nau.edu/archives/phys-l.html>, and homepage at <http://purcell.phy.nau.edu/phys-l/>; or b. PhysLrnR with archives at <http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/physlrnr.html>; or c. Physhare with archives at <http://lists.psu.edu/archives/physhare.html>. Some references relevant to Michelle's question are listed below. Richard Hake, Emeritus Professor of Physics, Indiana University 24245 Hatteras Street, Woodland Hills, CA 91367 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> <http://www.physics.indiana.edu/~hake> REFERENCES Epstein, J. 1997/98. "Cognitive Development in an Integrated Mathematics and Science Program," J. of College Science Teaching, 12/97 & 1/98, pp. 194 - 201. Ford, K. W. 1989. "Guest Comment: Is physics difficult?" Am J. Phys. 57(10), 871-872. For an excerpt see Hake (2000a, page 15). Hake, R.R. 2000a. "Is it Finally Time to Implement Curriculum S?" AAPT Announcer 30(4), 103 (2000); on the web as ref. 13 at <http://www.physics.indiana.edu/~hake> [CurriculumS.pdf., 3/15/01, 1200K] (400 references & footnotes, 390 hot-linked URL's). This paper concerns improving the education of undergraduate physics majors by instituting a "Curriculum S" for "Synthesis." But because that's a small part of a much larger educational problem in the U.S. there's a lot of material on the reform of P-16 education generally (P = preschool). Hammer, D. 1999. "Physics for first-graders?" Science Education 83(6),797-799; online at <http://www.physics.umd.edu/perg/cpt.html>. Lederman, L.M. 1999. "A science way of thinking." Education Week, 16 June; online at <http://www.edweek.org/ew/1999/40leder.h18>. Lederman, L. 2001. "Revolution in Science Education: Put Physics First." Physics Today 54(9): 11-12; online at <http://physicstoday.org/pt/vol-54/iss-9/p11.html>. Livanis, O. 2001. "Physics First"; online at <http://members.aol.com/physicsfirst/index.html>. Lopez, R.E. & T. Schultz, "Two Revolutions in K-8 Science Education." Physics Today 54(9): 44-49; online at <http://physicstoday.org/pt/vol-54/iss-9/p44.html>. Lochhead, J. (2000). "Thinkback: A User's Guide to Minding the Mind." Erlbaum. See also at <http://www.whimbey.com/Books/Thinkback/thinkback.htmi>. Mahajan, S. & R.R. Hake. 2000. Is it finally time for a physics counterpart of the Benezet/Berman math experiment of the 1930's? Physics Education Research Conference 2000: Teacher Education; online at <http://www.sci.ccny.cuny.edu/~rstein/perc2000.htm> and <http://wol.ra.phy.cam.ac.uk/sanjoy/benezet/>. ------ End of Forwarded Message -- This is the CPS Science Teacher List. To unsubscribe, send a message to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For more information: <http://home.sprintmail.com/~mikelach/subscribe.html>. To search the archives: <http://www.mail-archive.com/science%40lists.csi.cps.k12.il.us/>
