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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8 shows the distributions of final examination scores for the two years . Given the
students ' improvement in conceptual understanding , I would have been satisfied
if the distributions were the same . Instead , there is a marked improvement in ...
As the example in Chapter 1 makes clear , however , a disturbingly large fraction
of students develop strategies for solving problems without achieving even the
most basic understanding of the concepts involved . So the question really is : Do
...
The lectures are intended to challenge your thinking and thereby help you
assess your understanding of the concepts you read about , to further and
deepen your understanding of these concepts , to stimulate and inspire you , and
to show ...
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.