Peer Instruction: A User's ManualPresents an entirely new approach to introductory physics within a calculus-based conceptual and a mathematical framework. It offers an approach to presenting the material that is more gradual than existing books on the subject. KEY TOPICS: Peer Instruction: A User's Manual develops the full conceptual framework of each chapter within the first section of that chapter while addressing questions common to that topic. The material in this section concentrates on the underlying ideas and paints the big picture, whenever possible without equations. The second part of each chapter then develops the rigorous mathematical framework linked to the material presented in the first part. Each chapter also includes a short set of qualitative, conceptual questions at the end of the first section designed to strengthen the focus on the conceptual framework and facilitate understanding of the mathematical framework. The book is written in a lively, engaging style that anticipates the questions readers will have, articulates them, and answers them in a direct dialogue with the reader. MARKETS: A valuable reference book for anyone desiring an understanding of physics as it relates to engineering and science. |
From inside the book
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To make this point clear , I discuss the example of a person standing in an
elevator . While the normal force exerted by the elevator floor on the person is
equal to and opposite the weight of the person when the elevator is at rest , the ...
Consider a person standing in an elevator that is accelerating upward . The
upward normal force N exerted by the elevator floor on the person is 1 . larger
than 2 . identical to 3 . smaller than the downward weight W of the person .
Answer : 1 .
Even though the latter decreases as the object is pulled down , the sum of the two
must increase for the object to be able to gain kinetic energy A person swings on
a swing . When the person sits still , the swing oscillates back and forth at ...
What people are saying - Write a review
I"m a teacher of math and I stumbled on Eric Mazur's work on Youtube. The PeerInstruction Network is worth subscribing to to get the most recent blog posts. Julie Schell has an excellent summary of the method at Julie Schell Peer Instruction on youtube... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rixx-Qtnt5I
The key points are setting up a "concept test" which is a question that students discuss. This is how to get studnets participating in the class rather than passively receiving information... and the teacher gets some idea of how the student understands the material when the test or quiz is given on paper. Using Mazur's method, the teacher can find out quickly how many students get the concept.
The book might be focused largely on calculus and physics, but its resources can be adapted to apply to other sciences ... and I've used some of his procedures in a history class, too.