Talk:AfroPhysics/Pedagogy/Interest

Promoting creativity and problem solving skills
I am really overjoyed to be part of this project and discussion. Vincent has really tried to "work on" us so that we "get up" and start working. Now,I think another relevant issue is to examine the best way of physics (or generally science)assessment ,because I think we have a problem here. Most questions require mere recall! How does one ask "good" physics questions that promote creativity and problem solving skills?--Pkato 08:45, 15 October 2008 (UTC)
 * Welcome, Peter, to our working group. We are g r o w i n g ! It is a great joy for me to see colleagues of Vincent Kizza on the contributors list. The issue you put forward here is the key to our initiative. How can we promote creativity and problem solving skills? I reckon to begin with motivation. If we are sensitive enough to our students to hit their fundamental motives for learning and enjoying physics, we will get them engaged. Could you maybe start with asking your students what they find attractive about maths and physics? I mean personally attractive. And especially find out their primary motivation. That could be of great help to our project.--White Eagle 09:17, 15 October 2008 (UTC)
 * Today i decided to ask my students why they want to study physics and the following below were some of the responses(Verbatim) ...I was touched


 * To learn why some things happen.
 * Physics helps us to reason.e.g wy things fall to the ground.
 * To be what you want to be e.g an engineer
 * To understand things deeply. e.g the rainbow
 * To appreciate nature. e.g that atoms are invisible but they exist
 * Helps us to know why things happen e.g Eclipses
 * So as to save life,make money e.g as when you can understand electricity
 * Relate daily life to what we study in class e.g relation between speed and distance.
 * Think with the mind instead of the eyes
 * To do experiments and practical work
 * Get inspired by physicists by what they created.
 * Know about heat transfer.
 * Helps the country to develop
 * Becomes anxious to know more
 * Learn to reason

-Pkato 13:35, 23 October 2008 (UTC)
 * Thanks, Peter, for this great poll! You were touched. Why? Me, I'm touched too, because these answers show that your students have very solid interest and curiosity for learning physics, but of course not homogeneous. Physics in school can meet all of these interests and many more. Now, let's go one step further. As these young people have these motives on their own, we could see us as teachers in the role of being facilitators, that help them to follow their interest (or stimulate new ones). That means we are not only doing Physics because we, the adult society, wants the young generation to be fit for the future, but in first line because these young ones have an inherent need to develop their talents and to acquire knowledge and education. If they understand that we do so we do not have to worry about high exam failure rates! --Günther Osswald 08:21, 24 October 2008 (UTC)