![]()
written by
Ronald Gautreau and Lisa Novemsky
Since 1991, we have been using Alan Van Heuvelen's Overview, Case Study: Physics (OCS physics) methodology in introductory physics courses at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) with remarkable success. With the OCS method, physics concepts are presented first, with no mathematics. Only after the concepts are understood is math brought into the picture at the appropriate level. In addition, much of the learning is accomplished with students working together in small groups of three or four. In these collaborative settings, students actively engage each other in the learning process, working on specially designed small group problems, while the instructor acts as a facilitator of the on-going learning. We present various comparisons showing the effectiveness of OCS instruction over traditional teaching. In particular, since the introduction of OCS physics into NJIT's summer Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), which involves mostly minority students, EOP students have significantly outperformed non-EOP students in their fall physics courses. Interviews with students and observations of videotapes suggest that "second teaching" takes place in small groups following "first teaching" by the instructor. Second teaching is interpreted on the basis of ideas developed by Vygotsky.
American Journal of Physics: Volume 65, Issue May 1997, Pages 418-428
ComPADRE is beta testing Citation Styles!
![]() <a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=2249">Gautreau, Ronald, and Lisa Novemsky. "Concepts first -- a small group approach to physics learning." Am. J. Phys. 65, no. May 1997, (May 1, 1997): 418-428.</a>
![]() R. Gautreau and L. Novemsky, , Am. J. Phys. 65 (May 1997), 418 (1997), WWW Document, (https://doi.org/10.1119/1.18552).
![]() R. Gautreau and L. Novemsky, Concepts first -- a small group approach to physics learning, Am. J. Phys. 65 (May 1997), 418 (1997), <https://doi.org/10.1119/1.18552>.
![]() Gautreau, R., & Novemsky, L. (1997, May 1). Concepts first -- a small group approach to physics learning. Am. J. Phys., 65(May 1997), 418-428. Retrieved May 2, 2025, from https://doi.org/10.1119/1.18552
![]() Gautreau, Ronald, and Lisa Novemsky. "Concepts first -- a small group approach to physics learning." Am. J. Phys. 65, no. May 1997, (May 1, 1997): 418-428, https://doi.org/10.1119/1.18552 (accessed 2 May 2025).
![]() Gautreau, Ronald, and Lisa Novemsky. "Concepts first -- a small group approach to physics learning." Am. J. Phys. 65.May 1997 (1997): 418-428. 2 May 2025 <https://doi.org/10.1119/1.18552>.
![]() @article{
Author = "Ronald Gautreau and Lisa Novemsky",
Title = {Concepts first -- a small group approach to physics learning},
Journal = {Am. J. Phys.},
Volume = {65},
Number = {May 1997},
Pages = {418-428},
Month = {May},
Year = {1997}
}
![]() %A Ronald Gautreau %A Lisa Novemsky %T Concepts first -- a small group approach to physics learning %J Am. J. Phys. %V 65 %N May 1997 %D May 1, 1997 %P 418-428 %U https://doi.org/10.1119/1.18552 %O text/html ![]() %0 Journal Article %A Gautreau, Ronald %A Novemsky, Lisa %D May 1, 1997 %T Concepts first -- a small group approach to physics learning %J Am. J. Phys. %V 65 %N May 1997 %P 418-428 %8 May 1, 1997 %U https://doi.org/10.1119/1.18552 Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.
Citation Source Information
The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual. The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References. The Chicago Style presented is based on information from Examples of Chicago-Style Documentation. The MLA Style presented is based on information from the MLA FAQ. |