E-learning and novel methods of
teaching in Physics
Dr. H. M. Asif Javed
Coordinator Postgraduate Program/Assistant Professor
Department of Physics
University of Agriculture Faisalabad
Physics Departments and innovation?
• Physicists have a reputation for resisting innovation
• “Chalk and Talk” is well suited to mathematical material
• The students themselves prefer “Chalk and Talk”
Students’ appreciation of “chalk and talk”
The effect of using coloured chalk
Some SOLE comments about Powerpoint
• Powerpoint is a TERRIBLE way to teach maths and physics!
• It would be a lot easier if the lecturer wrote on the board, instead of doing all
the lectures on PowerPoint.
• I always feel myself dropping off to sleep when the lights dim and powerpoint
starts up.
• It is hard to follow complex mathematical concepts on powerpoint slides.
Some more SOLE comments
• Material done on the boards is supported well by powerpoint material
• Use of powerpoint slides worked very well
• The powerpoints made the lectures very well structured
• I liked the powerpoint with diagrams.
So what do we conclude?
• PowerPoint can be effective but not
generally for very mathematical material
• Need to present maths step by step
• Need to refer back to earlier steps
» PowerPoint has no running history
• Need to avoid going too fast!
• PowerPoint is excellent for complex
diagrams, images etc
• Students like a mix of different media
• Depends on the individual lecturer
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0.8
Reflectance R
0.6
0.4
s-pol
0.2
p-pol
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Angle of incidence
Example of Question
An experiment in teaching of optics
• 16-lecture core course in optics
– Lecture notes distributed in advance
– Students told to read the notes:
• This material will not be covered in the lecture
– Lectures used for other activities
• Summary of the main points
• Clicker questions and discussion
• Specific mathematical derivations
• Demonstrations and simulations
• Questions and answers
• Worked examples
• After 6 lectures students were asked if they
wanted to continue with the experiment
