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American Journal of Physics
written by 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
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Education Practices
- Pedagogy
General Physics
- Physics Education Research
- Lower Undergraduate
- High School
- Instructional Material
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Available by subscription
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© 1996 American Journal of Physics
Additional information is available.
DOI:
10.1119/1.18257
Keywords:
EDUCATION, EDUCATIONAL TOOLS, LEARNING, PHYSICS, TEXTBOOKS
Record Creator:
Metadata instance created June 13, 2005 by Lyle Barbato
Record Updated:
October 24, 2005 by Vince Kuo
Last Update
when Cataloged:
April 1, 1996
Other Collections:

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Record Link
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 March 29, 2024, 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 29 March 2024).
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. 29 Mar. 2024 <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


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