Statics Concept Questions For Enhancing Learning

Abstract

Students in science, math, or engineering classes often focus on plugging numbers into equations rather than understanding basic concepts. The book Peer Instruction by Eric Mazur (1997) helps physics teachers move students from juggling equations to actually thinking and learning the concepts of physics by use of concept questions. However, Mazur's methodology has not seen widespread use in teaching statics. This paper reports the initial development of concept questions to support active learning methods in statics classes. The development of statics' concept questions at different levels of Bloom's taxonomy, their use in statics classes at two different institutions, and initial results are described.