I think this will be the last of my problem-solving blogs for a while – it’s a little one about … More
Category: literacy
Going Goal-Free to Learn How to Solve Physics Problems
In previous posts, I have been writing about teaching problem solving (here, here and here). This post describes a strategy … More
Using Worked Examples to Reduce Cognitive Load in Physics
Learning how to solve problems is the key to becoming a physicist (here and here). The problem with problem solving is … More
Haven’t We Got Enough To Do Already? Why Science Teachers Should Teach Vocabulary and How to Make it Stick
There are words in the English language that science teachers wish the English department would teach – words like … More
Cooperative Reading
I started thinking about cooperative learning in 2010 and have made slow punctuated progress since. I know enough to write … More
The Role of Stories in Physics
Stories play a huge role in learning. Our brains suck them up. We should use stories in physics lessons. In … More
The Role of Problems in Physics
Recently, I have written about the importance of frequent problem solving for physics students. Thomas Kuhn, the philosopher of science, wrote … More
Teaching Energy
The more abstract a concept is, the less useful learners find definitions or explanations. There is no lightbulb moment. Rather, our … More
How We Learn Concepts in Science
In my last flurry of blogs (here, here and here), I wrote about the limits of definitions for learning . … More
Current – An Argument for Many Models
Current is a nice simple word; it means the rate of flow of charge. So you need to explain rate … More
