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J. Dudley and G. E. J. Bold
Traditional methods used to teach physics to students who are physics or engineering majors are inappropriate for introductory, "science literacy" courses. We describe here an alternative "top-down" teaching method which has been used successfully to enhance such a course given at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. The approach reverses the traditional sequence of instruction and is based on beginning all lecture treatments with discussions of complex, yet familiar, phenomena and working backward to discussions of the simple physical laws underlying them. We make extensive use of demonstrations and give examples of the particular application of this method to the teaching of electronics. The advantages and problems of this approach compared to traditional teaching methods in physics are also discussed.
American Journal of Physics: Volume 64, Issue 4, Pages 418-421
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<a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=2310">Dudley, J., and G. E. J. Bold. "'Top-down' teaching in noncalculus-based introductory physics classes." Am. J. Phys. 64, no. 4, (April 1, 1996): 418-421.</a>
AIP Format
J. Dudley and G. Bold, , Am. J. Phys. 64 (4), 418 (1996), WWW Document, (https://doi.org/10.1119/1.18257).
AJP/PRST-PER
J. Dudley and G. Bold, 'Top-down' teaching in noncalculus-based introductory physics classes, Am. J. Phys. 64 (4), 418 (1996), <https://doi.org/10.1119/1.18257>.
APA Format
Dudley, J., & Bold, G. (1996, April 1). 'Top-down' teaching in noncalculus-based introductory physics classes. Am. J. Phys., 64(4), 418-421. Retrieved May 2, 2025, from https://doi.org/10.1119/1.18257
Chicago Format
Dudley, J., and G. E. J. Bold. "'Top-down' teaching in noncalculus-based introductory physics classes." Am. J. Phys. 64, no. 4, (April 1, 1996): 418-421, https://doi.org/10.1119/1.18257 (accessed 2 May 2025).
MLA Format
Dudley, J., and G. E. J. Bold. "'Top-down' teaching in noncalculus-based introductory physics classes." Am. J. Phys. 64.4 (1996): 418-421. 2 May 2025 <https://doi.org/10.1119/1.18257>.
BibTeX Export Format
@article{
Author = "J. Dudley and G. E. J. Bold",
Title = {'Top-down' teaching in noncalculus-based introductory physics classes},
Journal = {Am. J. Phys.},
Volume = {64},
Number = {4},
Pages = {418-421},
Month = {April},
Year = {1996}
}
Refer Export Format
%A J. Dudley %A G. E. J. Bold %T 'Top-down' teaching in noncalculus-based introductory physics classes %J Am. J. Phys. %V 64 %N 4 %D April 1, 1996 %P 418-421 %U https://doi.org/10.1119/1.18257 %O text/html
EndNote Export Format
%0 Journal Article %A Dudley, J. %A Bold, G. E. J. %D April 1, 1996 %T 'Top-down' teaching in noncalculus-based introductory physics classes %J Am. J. Phys. %V 64 %N 4 %P 418-421 %8 April 1, 1996 %U https://doi.org/10.1119/1.18257 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.
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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. |
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