Contact Information
Department of Physics525 Northwestern Avenue
West Lafayette, IN
47907-2036
Map and Directions
Telephone:
(765) 494-2970
Fax:
(765) 494-0706
Professor William Leonard - General Colloquium
January 29, 2004
Professor William Leonard
Department of Physics and Scientific Reasoning Research Institute
University of Massachusetts Amherst
"Misunderstandings, Deliberate Deceptions, and Unacceptable Truths: A context for understanding communication and assessment in the science classroom"
What do amusement park simulators, murder mysteries, and politicians have in common, and how can they possibly provide any insight into the educational enterprise? What can sit-coms and comic strips teach us about teaching? How can fallen idols, illness, and proud parents help us to understand assessment? I will use situations such as these from outside the classroom to motivate and characterize many features of in-class dynamics in terms of human ways of knowing and communicating. I will, where possible, present cognitive research results relevant to the discussion of science instruction. Along the way I hope to give participants a taste of what it is like to be in one of my physics classes.