08.05.2011 - By Dr Rajesh Verma
While Physics is a great subject, some students find it very difficult. Physics can be taught from several perspectives - through history, applications, problems, theory, examples, laboratory experiments, simulations, etc. Physics is the subject which can be related to almost real life practical situations. Physics is the most fundamental of all sciences. It is really creative and prompts you to think. The subject is not dry at all as it is related to almost everything in this universe. A teacher can teach the subject using plenty of real life examples and he has ample opportunity to make learners think and find answers.
Physis is the study of the physical world coupled with time through mathametics propelled by curiosity. The three things, the physical world, time and mathematics, quadropled with imagination - the feeding power of curiosity, are therefore key ingredients in studying physics for some one to become a physicist. Physics has different attracting and enticing physical phenomena, like starts, motion, space and time, galaxies, gravity, etc which steer curiosities.
Focusing 'Physics of everyday life' can attract young students’ interest for Physics. If students like and excel in physics at school level, specifically at 10+2 level, then physics will be a lovable subject for further studies. School teachers and school teaching makes a difference!
Society does not need so many physicists. Thus, majority will study physics just for the grade. It is useless to excite students who did not choose physics as their profession since the majority of them believe that they know better what is good and what is bad for them...(experimental fact!) . Those who choose physics as their profession will be inspired only if there will be regular lectures by established physicists. I had experienced myself the thrill of listening the most recent research presentations when I was a PhD student at the University of Chicago. We had seminars almost every week. This left on me impressions lasting till this day.
A large fraction of the learning in most good science courses happens outside of the classroom, and this outside-of-classroom learning is only indirectly affected by class size. So the uses of research and technology makes classes more intellectually engaging and educationally effective often have the most obvious gains for large lecture courses and demonstrations achieving very good learning gains.
As in any human activity we search for creativity. Physics has to meet this basic need for humans or the youngsters will find other activities.