For years, Harvard students have dealt with large class enrollments and cavernous, impersonal lecture halls. To some, it has been a blessing--allowing the shy to avoid having to speak in front of their peers, or the tired to catch a few extra winks. To others, the crowding has been but a curse, frustrating and stifling those seeking a little more personal attention.
But, for those enrolled in "Physics 1b," the days of being lost in the crowd are fast becoming numbered.
With the help of a grant from Science Center Director Dean R. Gallant, McKay Professor of Applied Physics Eric M. Mazur is forcing students to learn from each other using interactive systems where technology meets the Science Center's multi-colored halls.
The technology allows Mazur to quiz students immediately to see if they "get it," and allows students to help teach their neighbor--a culmination in Mazur's teaching philosophy of peer instruction.
Start Your Engines
On cue, students pointed little remote control devices at the front of the room, and personal numbers of the students popped up on the hall's projection screen, recording the classes responses in bright purples, blues, greens, fuchsias and magentas.
Once the minute had passed, Mazur told his class, "turn to your neighbor and see if you can convince your neighbor what the right answer is."
Read more in News
Knowles: Faculty Recruitment Will Be Top PriorityRecommended Articles
-
Knowles Honors Six Faculty for TeachingDean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Jeremy R. Knowles named six professors as Harvard College Professors--annual awards given
-
Computer System Evaluates StudentsIn most Harvard lecture classes students who don't understand the course material can hide in the back of the room.
-
Study: AP Science Courses Are Poor Substitutes for College WorkScores on Advanced Placement (AP) science exams do not translate into success in introductory level college science courses, according to
-
Technology Finds Its Place in ClassesPRS Clickers, blogs, and even Google’s Android cell phone are all showing up in classrooms across Harvard’s campus. But many
-
Professors Explore Alternatives to Traditional LecturesIn physics and applied physics professor Eric Mazur’s classes, hundreds of students debate physics problems in small groups, consulting their laptops and phones as they search for the right answer.
-
How to Teach the TeachersPhysics professor Eric Mazur has been recognized internationally for his research program in optical physics as well as his work in science education. The Harvard Crimson interviewed Professor Mazur to find out more about his role as a science educator.