- #31
MarneMath
Education Advisor
- 550
- 198
I don't think the user you are replying intended to imply a mastery of material that would be on the level of a full time student taking a physics course or a professional. A person can learn something from varying degrees and just because the person didn't learn the material in a deep and 'meaningful' matter or can't extend results, doesn't mean the person didn't learn anything.
To give a trivial example, I'm fairly confident that I can show the power rule of derivatives to a modest high school student in 10 minute video. I'm fairly confident that student would be able to apply that rule over and over again. I'm also fairly confident that that same student (assuming no familiarity with limits) would be able to explain why it's important, why the reason is true, and falsely apply it to something like tan^2[x]. Nevertheless, to say the student learn nothing is bit ridiculously, and that's initially what Frederic is saying.
The simple fact is that I can watch ANY physics video and learn SOMETHING. Simply because I know so little about the material. I have NO intent to become an expert, nor any desire to get into the deepest topic, but surely, I can get a 'feel' for what the topic is about by listening to people talk about it. I think about curling, I have no idea how to play that 'sport' or the 'techniques' but from watching it, I can pick up some detail about it, even if I don't completely understand it.
On a related note, can someone explain curling to me?
Edit: I also felt like adding this. I don't think learning should ever be considered an isolated event. I believe the key to good learning is
1)Have a great textbook
2)The access to someone who knows the material.
3)Interaction with peers that are learning the material too.
What is great about this website is that contains 2 out of the 3 things I've listed. (Although you can say it contains all three if you consider textbooks written by a member.) A good book with a student who hasn't learn to self-study is essentially worthless. A good teacher with a student with no motivation is to learn is worthless. Motivated peer group is pointless if you exclude yourself from the group. If you a student wants to have eventual masterly of a material, I believe it needs to be a consistent effort of going to different sources and asking questions. Expecting one sources to teach you everything is expecting too much from anyone or anything. Heck, even in a college course, self-study is often needed.
To give a trivial example, I'm fairly confident that I can show the power rule of derivatives to a modest high school student in 10 minute video. I'm fairly confident that student would be able to apply that rule over and over again. I'm also fairly confident that that same student (assuming no familiarity with limits) would be able to explain why it's important, why the reason is true, and falsely apply it to something like tan^2[x]. Nevertheless, to say the student learn nothing is bit ridiculously, and that's initially what Frederic is saying.
The simple fact is that I can watch ANY physics video and learn SOMETHING. Simply because I know so little about the material. I have NO intent to become an expert, nor any desire to get into the deepest topic, but surely, I can get a 'feel' for what the topic is about by listening to people talk about it. I think about curling, I have no idea how to play that 'sport' or the 'techniques' but from watching it, I can pick up some detail about it, even if I don't completely understand it.
On a related note, can someone explain curling to me?
Edit: I also felt like adding this. I don't think learning should ever be considered an isolated event. I believe the key to good learning is
1)Have a great textbook
2)The access to someone who knows the material.
3)Interaction with peers that are learning the material too.
What is great about this website is that contains 2 out of the 3 things I've listed. (Although you can say it contains all three if you consider textbooks written by a member.) A good book with a student who hasn't learn to self-study is essentially worthless. A good teacher with a student with no motivation is to learn is worthless. Motivated peer group is pointless if you exclude yourself from the group. If you a student wants to have eventual masterly of a material, I believe it needs to be a consistent effort of going to different sources and asking questions. Expecting one sources to teach you everything is expecting too much from anyone or anything. Heck, even in a college course, self-study is often needed.
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It's the other way around! The Susskind lectures are excellent introduction before you pick up the particular chapter in your book and work through the practice problems.