Essays in Physics Teaching: Forces and Motion – Part 1

Introduction to the Series: Essays in Physics and Science Teaching

In the last 15 years of my teaching career, I have been involved with teaching Physics for 11 to 18 yr olds as well as supporting new physics teachers in developing different ways of understanding how to teach physics. I have observed countless hours of science teaching (and of other subjects) and spent hours watching videos on physics teaching and have used a number of textbooks throughout my teaching career.

Conversations with most physics teachers I have met and supported, mechanics seem to be a topic of contention, especially, how to teach it. Almost all textbooks I have used in my teaching and/or used for reference begin their topic of mechanics either by explaining vectors and scalars, or by teaching rectilinear motion and its equations for speed, velocity and acceleration and respective graphs. So, it seems that right at the start of students’ academic life in school, we are introducing them to what are, arguably, rather complicated equations and graphs, without really knowing whether they have the mathematical understanding to support this learning.

What is this blog about, you ask ?

I have been actively involved on twitter for a little over a year now and I have seen a lot of loud voices talking about a lot of different issues. Many people blog about a particular issue they love and become a part of a specific community within twitter or the blogosphere. I suppose the internet is a free-thinking zone and I feel like it is time I made my own contribution, in my own particular way.