COMMENT

Abstract

Good teaching isn't a hardware problemStuart Robertson, a physics teacher by training, now works to ensure that teachers are fully trained to use Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and that all Scottish students leave school competent with the basics of using computers. He addressed the Stirling meeting of physics teachers at the end of May. So, how do governments measure progress with ICT? They measure the numbers of schools with full internet access, the proportion of teachers with e-mail, the numbers of computers in classrooms and so on. One of England's most successful state schools (by exam results) boasts 26 interactive whiteboards, and in the UK there seems to be a feeling that lots of hardware = good school. Teaching isn't that simple.We don't need expensive research to know that just using a computer won't make teaching necessarily better. Robertson knows this and advises: don't be driven by technology—be driven by what you can do with it. Good teaching has always been about using the resources at hand, and it still is.Our aim at Physics Education is support the teaching of physics by reviewing and discussing new teaching tools— hardware and software (see Reviews). That's not to say that we must all be using expensive electronic boxes of tricks to reinforce every concept. We don't need computers to teach physics. I really doubt that my teachers, back in the 1970s, would have taught me much more physics if we had had computers in our lab.In this issue of Physics Education we have examples of some very straight-forward demonstrations and experiments—with no computer involvement whatsoever. But we also have some computer-interfaced activities and some computer-based investigations. We recognize that some institutions have an erratic electricity supply and few, if any, computers. Others are being driven to use as much electronic gadgetry as possible, following the mistaken assumption that this is, in itself, educationally better. Other schools and colleges are exploring electronic learning through the internet and virtual labs (see Steve Mellema's use of IT in his Lecture for the 21st Century). We aim to provide useful material for everybody at and in between the extremes.But some words of caution, sounded by Robertson in Stirling: today we might find that our classes are motivated and interested when we use computers, but how long will the excitement last? If every lesson faces children with computer screens will they soon get bored and demotivated? Individual learning, through worksheets, was a great success when it was developed in the 70s, but when every lesson faced a child with yet another worksheet, students were turned off. It became known as 'death by a thousand worksheets'. Let's not abuse computers in the same way.Physics for the beach and the igloo Physics is about being cool, as we are always trying to tell our students! In this 'summer' issue we have two papers which allow us to demonstrate this practically.I should also like to remind readers that Physics Education is available online (www.iop.org/Journals/pe) in addition to the paper version. The electronic version has the advantages of hotlinks to websites, search facilities and the ability to download teaching materials. My guess is that we haven't begun to explore the possibilities of the electronic journal as a teaching resource for teachers. If it can be stored electronically, we can include it as a multimedia clip – pictures, worksheets, spreadsheets, videos, sounds...But there are also many advantages of paper—convenience and permanence being just two. Physics Education is a worthwhile publication – and it feels like that in your hand. Having a journal like this, to put in my bag, or stack on my bookshelf, still feels good to me. And judging by readers' comments, you agree. IOPP will, no doubt, support both formats for a long time to come. So, this summer, enjoy the format you are reading, read Physics Education on screen or on the beach, reflect on your teaching, your students' learning and remind yourself that physics really can be cool. Editor: Kerry Parker