Practicing solving in terms of variables! I think this better communicates what I mean by "solve in terms of given variables before plugging in values" more than saying "solve in terms of the given variables before plugging in values." #iteachphysics - ThreadSky

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joemilliano.bsky.social • 2 days ago

Practicing solving in terms of variables! I think this better communicates what I mean by "solve in terms of given variables before plugging in values" more than saying "solve in terms of the given variables before plugging in values." #iteachphysics

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arundquist.bsky.social•2 days ago

I used to do 4 follow up questions after the class finished a problem on the board that were all very easy to answer if they did it with variables (like "what if the mass doubled?"). I noticed that more people started going to that approach first

danhosey.bsky.social•1 day ago

I like this twist on the age old teaching challenge. The mystery boxes make it feel more like a puzzle than a dry mathematical exercise. Especially when the boxes look fancy.

phyicistbrianm.bsky.social•2 days ago

I eventually get my calc-based classes to do this by giving them problems that end with "find an expression for _____, in terms of _____, ______, and constants." This looks like a great intro to my method

joemilliano.bsky.social•2 days ago

I use that language too, but it seems to not click with a lot of students at first. I'm trying this out as a precursor to using that language.

phyicistbrianm.bsky.social•2 days ago

I will definitely try it in the fall.

meganhg.bsky.social•2 days ago

Cool approach! I’ve had difficulty doing this with 9th grade. What grades do you teach?

joemilliano.bsky.social•2 days ago

Currently trying this approach with 10th grade physics, but I've taught 9th graders too. Usually it's taken me a few months of feedback to the ninth graders before they "get it."

meganhg.bsky.social•2 days ago

Great! Funny enough, this is a learning objective in the precalculus class I teach to juniors.

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