Are High School Students Exploring Advanced Topics on Their Own?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around whether high school students engage in self-directed exploration of advanced topics in physics and mathematics beyond their standard curriculum. Participants share their experiences and approaches to studying advanced concepts independently.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses interest in knowing if others solve advanced problems or study topics not covered in class, emphasizing a desire for exploration rather than formal research.
  • Another participant shares their experience of spending time in libraries and purchasing advanced textbooks to engage with higher-level material during their undergraduate years.
  • A different viewpoint suggests that reading journals is more beneficial than solving textbook problems, indicating a preference for current research over traditional exercises.
  • One participant advises finding topics that are enjoyable and stimulating, suggesting that excitement about a subject can guide further exploration.
  • Another participant questions whether peers follow their teachers' programs or seek advanced knowledge out of curiosity, indicating a desire for more serious engagement with the material.
  • A participant reflects on their own independent learning experiences, mentioning work on Exoplanet Transit Light Curves, though they express uncertainty about labeling it as research.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of experiences and approaches to self-study, with no clear consensus on whether high school students typically engage in advanced topics independently or primarily follow their curriculum.

Contextual Notes

Some participants indicate uncertainty about the classification of their independent work as research, and there is variability in how individuals define and approach advanced study.

MadAtom
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[for high school students] surely I'm not talking about real research, but I just want to know if you try to solve advanced (physics or maths) problems or if you dedicate some time to study things that are not taught at class. And by "study" I don't mean HSW or popular science books (don't get me wrong, I'm not despising those sources of knowledge!).

If yes, how did you started? which topics do you explore? I found this Gerard 't Hooft website (http://www.staff.science.uu.nl/~hooft101/theorist.html), but it's too much stuff and I'm going to university soon. I just want to get in a topic so I can... speculate... practice... have fun!
 
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I'd spend a Saturday and/or Sunday at the city public library or university library, or do problems from textbooks that I'd buy at a technical book store or university book store. During my undergrad years, I frequently bought extra textbooks for upper level or grad school courses.
 
reading journals is far more useful than doing textbook problems.
 
Finding out what you like is important. If it is "easy" (aka enjoyable) to read the articles, you are in the right place. If a certain topic excites you, read more about it.

Think about the biggest question you can and see where that leads you.
 
sorry for replying late, internet connection issues... Ok but you guys just follow (or used to) the program of your teacher or try to learn more advanced things by yourself? Not just for feeding your curiosity. More seriously.
 
MadAtom said:
sorry for replying late, internet connection issues... Ok but you guys just follow (or used to) the program of your teacher or try to learn more advanced things by yourself? Not just for feeding your curiosity. More seriously.

While I'm not in high school anymore, and I don't attend college at the moment, I do learn a lot about science on my own and have done Exoplanet Transit Light Curves myself. I don't know if you'd call that research, but it's something I'd say.
 
Drakkith said:
I don't know if you'd call that research, but it's something I'd say.

It is more then what I do.
 

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