(2009-01-13) Mit Physics Lectures Exploded

MIT's Physics department has replaced the traditional large introductory lecture with smaller classes that emphasize hands-on, interactive, collaborative learning. Last fall, after years of experimentation and debate and resistance from students, who initially petitioned against it, the department made the change permanent. Already, attendance is up and the failure rate has dropped by more than 50 percent... At M.I.T., two introductory courses are still required - classical mechanics and electromagnetism - but today they meet in high-tech classrooms, where about 80 students sit at 13 round tables equipped with networked computers. (College Education) Argh bile-flashback to Cornell University lectures for physics and calculus, and EE, and .....

Jon Udell has more about MIT's TEAL program.