Socratic Dialogs and Clicker use in an Upper-Division Mechanics Course
written by
H. Vincent Kuo, Patrick B. Kohl , and Lincoln D. Carr
The general problem of effectively using interactive engagement in non-introductory physics courses remains open. We present a three-year study comparing different approaches to lecturing in an intermediate mechanics course at the Colorado School of Mines. In the first year, the lectures were fairly traditional. In the second year the lectures were modified to include Socratic dialogs between the instructor and students. In the third year, the instructor used a personal response system and Peer Instruction-like pedagogy. All other course materials were nearly identical to an established traditional lecture course. We present results from a new instructor-constructed conceptual survey, exams, and course evaluations. We observe little change in student exam performance as lecture techniques varied, though students consistently stated clickers were "the best part of the course" from which they "learned the most." Indeed, when using clickers in this course, students were considerably more likely to become engaged than students in CSM introductory courses using the same methods.
Physics Education Research Conference 2011
Part of the PER Conference series
Omaha, Nebraska: August 3-4, 2011
Volume 1413, Pages 235-238
<a href="https://www.per-central.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=11854">Kuo, V, P. Kohl, and L. Carr. "Socratic Dialogs and Clicker use in an Upper-Division Mechanics Course." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2011, Omaha, Nebraska, August 3-4, 2011.</a>
V. Kuo, P. Kohl, and L. Carr, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2011, Omaha, Nebraska, 2011, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11854&DocID=2705).
V. Kuo, P. Kohl, and L. Carr, Socratic Dialogs and Clicker use in an Upper-Division Mechanics Course, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2011, Omaha, Nebraska, 2011, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11854&DocID=2705>.
Kuo, V., Kohl, P., & Carr, L. (2011, August 3-4). Socratic Dialogs and Clicker use in an Upper-Division Mechanics Course. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2011, Omaha, Nebraska. Retrieved May 27, 2025, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11854&DocID=2705
Kuo, V, P. Kohl, and L. Carr. "Socratic Dialogs and Clicker use in an Upper-Division Mechanics Course." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2011, Omaha, Nebraska, August 3-4, 2011. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11854&DocID=2705 (accessed 27 May 2025).
Kuo, Vince, Patrick B. Kohl, and Lincoln Carr. "Socratic Dialogs and Clicker use in an Upper-Division Mechanics Course." Physics Education Research Conference 2011. Omaha, Nebraska: 2011. 235-238 Vol. 1413 of PER Conference. 27 May 2025 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11854&DocID=2705>.
@inproceedings{
Author = "Vince Kuo and Patrick B. Kohl and Lincoln Carr",
Title = {Socratic Dialogs and Clicker use in an Upper-Division Mechanics Course},
BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2011},
Pages = {235-238},
Address = {Omaha, Nebraska},
Series = {PER Conference},
Volume = {1413},
Month = {August 3-4},
Year = {2011}
}
%A Vince Kuo %A Patrick B. Kohl %A Lincoln Carr %T Socratic Dialogs and Clicker use in an Upper-Division Mechanics Course %S PER Conference %V 1413 %D August 3-4 2011 %P 235-238 %C Omaha, Nebraska %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11854&DocID=2705 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2011 %O August 3-4 %O application/pdf
%0 Conference Proceedings %A Kuo, Vince %A Kohl, Patrick B. %A Carr, Lincoln %D August 3-4 2011 %T Socratic Dialogs and Clicker use in an Upper-Division Mechanics Course %B Physics Education Research Conference 2011 %C Omaha, Nebraska %V 1413 %P 235-238 %S PER Conference %8 August 3-4 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11854&DocID=2705
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