TEACHING OF DIFFICULT CONCEPTS IN PHYSICS AT TERTIARY EDUCATION LEVEL

OYELAMI B. O. SCHOOL OF THEORETICAL PHYSICS NATIONAL MATHEMATICAL CENTRE, ABUJA Love and Delight are better Teachers than compulsion ALBRECHT DURER
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This being a paper presented at the Capacity Workshop for Mathematical Sciences Lecturers in Tertiary Institutions at National Mathematical centre Abuja
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INTRODUCTION
Many researchers have advocated that problem solving is central to Mathematical Education; we like to mention two of such researchers, the 2006 Field Medalist Terence Tao [10] and Voskoglou Michael [11].

Introduction cont y By extension, problem solving is critical to Physics Education since Mathematics is central to Physics. y Research is defined by the Oxford Learner Dictionary as a careful study of a subject, especially in order to discover new facts or information about it[2]

Mathematical Physics or Theoretical Physics is the use of Mathematics to study the theoretical concepts in Physics. We recall, Physics is made of two components, the Experimental Physics and the Theoretical Physics. In modern times, introduction of computers had sandwiched Experimental Physics and the theoretical physics together to have what is now known as Computational Physics.

In Mathematical Physics we are interested in studying Matter, Space, Time and Energy using mathematical terms and use of mathematics to unravel the mysteries of nature [4].

From the above, Mathematics is part and parcel of Physics; hence problem solving is central to Physics Education from Kindergarten to Tertiary Education level.

Learning Physics means doing some mixture of practice exercise, computation on computer (simulations) and performing experiments to develop skill and problem solving capability for deeper understanding of the nature and its laws.
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There are several problems solving strategies in Physics, but some ways of promoting problem solving are through seminars, independent researches and interdisciplinary projects. Peter [7] in his study on force concepts for Physics undergraduate university students, through constructivist approach to learner observed that students are active learners who construct their own understanding of phenomena on the basis of context and present stage of knowledge.
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constructivist and conceptual understanding

Research backbone of development

y Therefore, it is advisable that the

teachers exploit their constructivist and conceptual understanding in teaching difficult concepts in Physics courses.

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STUDENTS Should love the subject

y In order to stimulate the development of

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students problem solving skills, the teacher needs to make the students to love the subject not as a compulsion to pass the course just like Albrecht Durer said. Give deeper in sight into the topic under consideration; make them to understand the connection between or among basic concepts. How do they interact together to solve problems in Physics? This is a question the teacher needs to constantly ask.

Some Basic Questions in teaching difficult Concepts

yThere are several questions the

teacher needs to ask himself when teaching perceived difficult concepts in Physics courses. Here are some questions that may be relevant in this direction:
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The future development of a nation depends in no small measure on how grounded the higher education is developed and by extension on what kind of research culture is the nation is pursuing.
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The success story of a nation can best be told if the nations Research policy accommodates effective applications of research to solve societal problems and also provides the education of her students to provide the contextual knowledge and specific skills that will make them effective thinkers and leaders, informed decision makers and responsible citizens.
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Technology and nation's future

Technology and the nations future are intertwined, if the government has a policy on technology development that facilitate the translation of new knowledge to new capacity then the future will be very bright otherwise the future has nothing to offer to that nation
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CHALLENGES OF RESEARCH IN 21ST CENTURY

The most challenging issues facing humanity have central social and individual dimensions environmental change, population flows, national and religious conflict, the social, cognitive and neural aspects of aging, and others.
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20th Century achievements

yThe

Century witnessed many landmark achievements in Research and Development but many problems were carried over to the st Century. In the 21st Century, 21 therefore, researchers must spend sleepless night to proffer solutions to humanitys problem in this century.

th 20

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We will look at the 21st Century research under the following sub-headings:

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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Majority of the topmost problems are in the medicine. The occurrences of diseases and syndromes like HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis, Sars, bird flu, cancers and Parkinson diseases and so on. There also genetic related diseases, haemoglobinopathies like sickle cell anemia and thallassaemia [1]
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Science and Technology cont

y The World Health Organization (WHO) has

classified some of those diseases and syndromes mentioned above as being contagious to man. WHO and its agencies like UAID, Global fund (GP) and other multi lateral organizations are funding research on the diseases and syndromes. They also provide education to people on the spread of the diseases and syndromes, chemotherapy, development of vaccines and other related support services ([3]&[6])
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Science and Technology Cont

Most challenging medical problem is on how to develop potent vaccines for HIV, malaria and Tuberculosis (HMT). Although, there many vaccines undergoing clinical trials, but up till now, we can say there is no most potent HMT vaccine for now.
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Science and Technology Cont

y For HIV/AIDs drugs-Antiretroviral (AR)

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and highly active antiretroviral (HAAR) drugs have many complications when patient apply them for long period the patent often surfer cardiovascular problems. Research on potent vaccines and Drugs that would cure HMT diseases and syndrome without notable medical side effects are welcome in 21st century.

Genetic Related Diseases

y WHO seems not to classify genetic related

diseases (GRD) among most dangerous global diseases to mankind but GRD is most endemic among the black races and the people of Mediterranean. Other medical research problems are on Genome and ethical issue and this will dominate research in the 21st Century in medicine ([1]).
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Engineering and Medicine

y Furthermore ,We also expect that there would be

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some engineering challenges like the use of engineering to better medicine vis-a-vis development medical equipment for medical imaging and treatment of diseases which would different completely from the traditional radiotherapy. More problems are to envisage on medical informatics. Intensified researches are expected to be on cancer, psychiatric disorders, diabetes, and Alzheimers disease [1].

Information Technology
Developments of satellite and related wireless technology have revolutionalized information technology. Computer found many applications in every Human Endeavour. The introduction wireless cell phones, internet services and ATM machines made life easy for people. Internet services and ATM machines have made business 25 transaction easier these days.

Telecommunication and Communication

The problem of cyber security is one of the major issues and typical research challenge of the 21 century in telecommunication and communication.

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Telecom and Communication Network Researches on Quality of Service (QoS) in telecommunication network and traffic control for any network will continue dominate 21st century Research. Most researches of this century would be targeted at productions of products that give value for money, researches that explore the possibility of producing high quality products and with beautiful packages would also be encouraged.
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ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Global warming is topmost in the list of environmental problems. Continuous emission of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by burning of fossil oil had mark rise in the tidal level of the ocean which had led to flood in many places globally. The occurrence earthquake, tornadoes and Tsunamis are constantly threatening the existence of 28 life in the earth planet.

Environmental issues cont

y Managing of nitrogen and avoid dangerous

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interference with nitrogen cycle. The uses of fertilizers increase available nitrogen on the planet, which led to global warming and ecological imbalance. The recycling of products especially biodegradable products like plastic materials is another environmental problem. Pollutions of land and drinkable water with poisonous substances such as heavy metals and crude oil arising from spillages.

Environmental issue cont

yCurrent and future researches must

be on how to provide clean and safe water to drink and how to reduce air pollution especially in the cities inhabited by human.

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Environmental Issues Cont

y Other issues that may likely dominate the 21st Research

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is the issue of alternative energy to the fossil energy which is expensive and some scientists say is not environmentally friendly. The price of crude oil is soaring in the international market and the West is seeking development of alternative energy in form of renewable energy. Research on the use fuel ethanol and biodiesel fuel is being explored as alternate sources to the fossil fuel. Conversion of food produce to fuel ethanol and biodiesel had led to food crisis in the recent times.

ECONOMICS AND FINANCE RELATED RESEARCH

In the recent times research on Ecophysics is being intensified wherein principles or theories in physics are applied to economic problems. The state of economy of country can be modeled using some ecophysical principles.
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Financial Related Research Cont.. y The researches in the mathematics of finance require high quality of Mathematics background and garnished with Computer Science and Statistics.

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Financial Related Issue Cont

y Many financial transactions need sophisticated

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quantitative techniques to understand, hence many financial and mortgage houses spend several billion of dollars on researches on financial mathematics. Problems that are of interest are on hedging, portfolio management, interest rates and market volatility. Pricing of options both for vanilla and exotic ones is another interesting one.

Financial issue cont

y Furthermore, other

economic research of interest is prediction of the state of the economy of a nation in future which include simulation of gross domestic product (GDP) of the nation; internalization of trade to boost the foreign reserve of the nation by increasing per capita income of the nation. In Nigeria two contending research problems are on exchange rate for foreign currency and re-decimalization of naira.

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RESEARCHES IN SOCIAL SCIENCES

Modern approaches to important research topics increasingly reflect multi-disciplinary research capacity and research teams. Currently, several areas of research in social sciences create significant extramural funding opportunities: cognitive science, brain imaging, sociology, and some economic specialties including transportation, 36 development, and health economics.

Researches in Social Sciences y Increasing granting activity in these areas, along with new and emerging areas, will contribute to major research programmes, but also generate the need for added infrastructure support in grants management, grants writing, and technology management.
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Researches in Social Sciences y Other issues of research interest are on inflation, population with associated immigration, emigrations, refuges and displacement of persons problems. R&D programmes on Conflict management, sociology, psychology and other forms of anthropological studies are being promoted and supported in many countries.
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EDUCATION AND HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT

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Education plays major role in human development in equipping people with basic skill to read and write. The United Nation Organization has developed several strategies to put the Dakar Framework for Action on Education for All (EFA) into practice ([5]) .

EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT y In order to meet-up with EFA developmental goals, many countries introduced Skill acquisition programmes into their educational plans. Many research problems are skill acquisition to inculcate the people with the basic skills that would make them relevant in main stream of workforce of the nation. Unemployment and underemployment crises are abounding because of the fact people do not have basic skills that would make them employable or even earned good wages.
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Education and Human Development y Furthermore, most of 21st Century merging problems requires sophisticated skills and research tools to study them. Many Academic Institutions and Research Centres worldwide are introducing Graduate and Research Programmes to develop high level manpower to solve the societal problems. This trend will continue even beyond the 21st century.

ETHICAL AND CONTROVERSIAL RESEARCH PROBLEMS

There are several controversial and ethical problems that are expected to st Century Research dominate the 21 .Here are some of these Problems:
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Ethical and controversial Issues cont

y Cloning of animals and human: Should research

on cloning of organisms through unification of human and animal genes be allowed? y Some of the sensitive issues are on genetics relate to the ethics of pregnancy choice [1]. Whether it is ethical to screen a pregnant woman to determine the sex of the baby in her or whether her baby is deformed? or even screen her to determine whether she has HIV/AIDS.
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Ethical and Controversial issues cont

y Should countries be allowed to develop

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nuclear weapons or use nuclear fuel for civic purposes without interferences of other nations or the United Nation Organization? y Should sex education and related condom option for safer sex practice should things to be mention in the public or even be taught to teenagers in schools?

Has the globalization ideology help in unifying people of world together? Biotechnology: should research on genetic modified food by encouraged and supported? Same sex marriage: Should homosexualism and Lesbianism be legalized?

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Should developed countries continue invest in space exploration research while underdeveloped nations keep on wallowing in poverty, hunger and diseases? There are many other questions the 21st century researchers must consider and answer. Thank you for Listening and God bless you.
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REFERENCE
[1]Bob Williamson. Bulletin of the World Health. Organization, 2001, 79(11), pp1005. [2]Hornby A.S. Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary of Current English.Sixth edition,Sally Wehmeier and Michael Ashby(Editors).Oxford press.UK.,2001. [3]Population Reports. Issues in World Health, series L, Number 3, volume XXIX, Fall 2001. 47

References cont
[4]Science and Engineering Research in a Changing world. http://www.nas.edu/21st/research/research.html. [5]UNESCO: Report of the Third Meeting of the Working Group on Education for All, Paris 22-23 July, 2002. [6]World Health Organization: Health Challenges for research in the 21st century David E.Barmes Global Health Lectures. Bethesda, Maryland, USA, 6 December 2004.
THE END

Thank You

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