Teaching Practices in Introductory Physics Courses

Abstract

The teaching practices of 24 instructors of introductory physics were observed in six colleges and universities. These instructors were asked to indicate their objectives for the course and for the class period visited. The types and purposes of the questions that the instructors asked were determined from audiotape records of 45 class periods. We concluded that the instructors asked questions which on the average required minimum intellectual involvement of the students. We also noted that the instructor's emphasis in his teaching was directed primarily toward the content of physics and far less toward the processes of physics.

Department(s)

Physics, Astronomy, and Materials Science

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1987857

Publication Date

1974

Journal Title

American Journal of Physics

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS