Education and Academia Articles

Tag Archive for: education

Carl Sagan

Popular Science Communication: Bridging Science & Public

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Abstract Famous Science Communicators There is so much to say about the many endeavors by professional scientists to explain to us the world. The list…
teaching physics

A Lesson In Teaching Physics: You Can’t Give It Away

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A central principle of Physics Forums regarding homework help is not to provide solutions on demand but to guide students along a path to the answer. The…
what if physics questions

How to Ask ‘What If’ Physics Questions: Avoiding Pitfalls

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Overview of "What If" Questions We receive many "what if" questions here on Physics Forums. This article explores three common types and offers suggestions…
science major advice

Aiming High and Managing Distractions as Keys to Success for Science Majors

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Overview Over the years, I've noticed some distinct trends among the physics and chemistry majors I've mentored and worked with. Those with GPAs in…
workethic

Why Work Ethic Is a Key to Success for Science Majors

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Student Success and Key Factors After earning a 4.0 GPA in his first semester as a Physics major at an esteemed state university, our son (and homeschool…
coldquestioning

How to Ask Questions Effectively and Avoid Cold Questions

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Common Questions We Receive We frequently get questions such as these:"What is energy?""What are Cooper Pairs?""What is conservation of momentum?"etc...etc. Why…
learned

Learning to Learn: Key Skill for Aspiring Physicists

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Context: The Question I Get Asked I mentioned in an earlier Insight what I think are the most important things you can learn by being on Physics Forums.…
boatramps

Real Research in Unexpected Places; Boat Ramps

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Read part 1 -Backyards, Barns, Bayous Air Force Academy appointment When I was offered a job at the Air Force Academy, it seemed like an opportunity to…
fakenews

Spotting Fake Science News: Wendelstein 7‑X & Media

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Fake News, Data, and the Need to Check Sources During and even after the recent US election campaign, numerous reports of fake or misleading news were…
whystudyphysics

Why Study Physics? A Bit Goes a Long Way!

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Why Study Physics? If you don’t plan to become a scientist or an engineer, is there a good reason to study physics?  I say, “Yes,” because knowing…
govandteachers

Fixing Scientific Integrity: Teachers, Editors, and Data

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Introduction The article, "Governmental policy is wrecking science," makes some interesting points but is fundamentally in error, because government…
mathiq

Low IQ or Bad Grades? Why You Can Still Succeed in Math

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No, a low IQ score, poor competition results, or weak high-school grades do not disqualify anyone from succeeding in mathematics, physics, or engineering.…
complexscience

Thoughts on the Complexity of Modern Science

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Science today is incredibly complex. Anyone who ever did scientific research knows that, but many in the general public seem to be completely unaware of…
goingbacktoschool

A Guide to Going Back to School For Math or Science

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Motivations for creating the series I came to Physics Forums originally to read ZapperZ’s thread about becoming a physicist back in 2013. It was one…
doubt

Doubt vs. Discouragement: A Physics Student’s Calculus Story

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Overcoming discouragement means recognizing that another person's doubt about your ability is not evidence of your limits. The author failed a calculus…
imagination

Why Imagination Without Knowledge Is Ignorance Waiting to Happen

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Introduction My feelings on people who think that imagination is more important than knowledge are well-known. These people simply are parroting Einstein's…

Why You Should Not Use Wikipedia As Your Primary Source

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It is no secret to anyone who has read my posts in this forum for a while that I do not like Wikipedia. I think that there is a fundamental flaw with the…
learnfrompf

The Most Important Thing You Can Learn from Physics Forums

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Introduction It is a bit pompous of me to think that I can tell you the most important thing you can learn from Physics Forums (PF). After all, each…
math obvious

Teaching Math: Why “Obvious” Beats Memorized Rules

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Teaching math well means teaching students to ask "why" until an idea feels inevitable, not just memorizing rules. A math teacher's central goal is to…
alternative careers

Careers with a Physics Degree: Alternatives & Advice

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Full Chapter List - So You Want To Be A Physicist... Series Part I: Early Physics Education in High schools Part II: Surviving the First Year…
surviving college

Essential Guide: Surviving Your First Year in Physics

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Part II: Surviving the First Year of College This part covers survival tips for the first two undergraduate years. You’re now in college and intend…
Early Physics Education in High schools

Early Physics Education in High Schools For Physics Majors

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So You Want to Be a Physicist: A 22-Part GuideFull Chapter List - So You Want To Be A Physicist... SeriesPart I: Early Physics Education in High…
crackpot

9 Warning Signs of Pseudoscience You Should Know

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Genuine science follows the scientific method: testable predictions, sound reasoning, and reproducible evidence. Pseudoscience borrows scientific-sounding…