Applying physics education research to teaching

A fundamental paper that guides my thinking about teaching is Lillian McDermott’s 2001 Oersted Medal Lecture entitled “Physics Education Research - The Key to Student Learning.” It was published in AJP and given at the American Association of Physics Teachers meeting that year. It highlights the value of taking a scientific approach to improve student learning. It also demonstrates the benefits of active engagement in the classroom and the limits of traditional instruction. Teaching effectively can be trained; it is more than just an art. McDermott highlights core principles of physics education research and puts those principles in context of physics examples (simple electric circuits and single/double slit diffraction). Her phrase, “Teaching by telling is an ineffective mode of instruction for most students,” is a mantra that I have always kept in mind when making decisions about how to proceed in a course.