Category Archives: Pedagogy

Thoughts about teaching.

a crazy collision of a teaching idea

Posted on February 23, 2013 by Ian

I love it when two different ideas collide in my head, even when I’m not entirely sure whether the result is a beautiful synthesis or an ugly wreck. first idea In a conference paper I wrote exploring what we could … Continue reading →

Posted in Learning & Teaching, Pedagogy, problem/project-based learning | 12 Comments

No-Bullshit Teaching

Posted on August 29, 2012 by Ian

This is a post where I try to put some ideas I’ve been wrestling with for a while into new words, hoping for new insight. What follows may or may not be worth a hoot. Caveat emptor. The more I … Continue reading →

Posted in Learning & Teaching, Pedagogy | 1 Comment

What’s in a model?

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Ian

I’m trying to incorporate some of the ideas and practices of Modeling Instruction, especially Eric Brewe’s University Modeling Instruction (MI-U), into my teaching this semester. I can’t do full-on MI-U, since (a) I don’t have six hours per week of … Continue reading →

Posted in Learning & Teaching, Modeling Instruction, Pedagogy | 3 Comments

MI-U “models” for physics 2

Posted on July 29, 2012 by Ian

So after yesterday’s workshop on MI-U (Modeling Instruction, University level), I’m brainstorming possible “models” at the heart of a typical calc-based Physics II course, which I just happen to be teaching this fall. Here’s what comes to mind for models … Continue reading →

Posted in Learning & Teaching, Modeling Instruction, Physics Education Research | 3 Comments

AAPT: modeling workshop with Eric Brewe

Posted on July 28, 2012 by Ian

Recently, in various papers, grant proposals, and the like that I’ve been drafting, I’ve found myself writing something along the lines of “These are several qualities that we ought to be incorporating into our physics instruction, but aren’t… um, except … Continue reading →

Posted in Learning & Teaching, Pedagogy | 2 Comments