how to teach effective physics ?

how to teach effective physics ?

Be it any topic of Physics, always start with the concept first and then tell the definition while most of the teachers do it the other way around. This small but great method is by far the best method of teaching as far as I know. Let me talk a little psychology so as to explain why it should be done in this way.

Assume that you are teaching the class about Torque.

First you say "Let's start with the definition first." Now I'll tell what goes on in the minds of different students once you say this sentence followed by the definition

 "Torque is the rotating effect produced when a force acts on object at a perpendicular distance and hence T= r (cross)F "

1.Studious students:

 The most studious ones will condition their mind to look out for the most important words as you tell the definition and try to learn it by heart and then try to understand the concept once you start explaining after telling the definition.

Consequence: The students will concentrate more on the definition and some of them in the course of learning the definition forget the concept involved and thus the very crux of learning is lost.

Solution: However if you start explaining the concept using the door of the class as an explanatory tool for example and then tell the definition the students would understand it better.

2.Mediocre students: These students will first get terrified by the definition and start worrying about how they can score marks in their upcoming exams .

Consequence: This will lead to a decrease in morale and self confidence and their mind will be occupied with the aspect of mark scoring rather than paying attention to what is being explained in class.

Solution: Now if you apply the same method as that for studious students, these students will also grasp concepts perfectly

3. The Prototypical Back benchers:

These students who usually don't care about what is told in class will anyway get bored by your definition in the first hand and then they will start disturbing the class.

Consequence: The entire class gets disturbed and there is no scope of understanding the concept.

Solution: The thumb rule to manage students of this kind is to entertain them. So at the beginning of the class call one of those "backbenchers" to come near the door of the class and ask them to move and then explain that his/her hand applies a force perpendicular to the door and that's what makes it move and the other friends of the back benchers in the course of seeing what one of their fellow benchmates will try to understand what's going on in the class and 90% chances are that they will pay attention for the rest of the time.

Hope this answer helps...

regards

ANURAG TYAGI

ANURAG TYAGI CLASSES