English

Feynman, Lewin, and Einstein Download Zoom: A Guide for Incorporating E-Teaching of Physics in a Post-COVID World

Physics Education 2021-05-05 v2

Abstract

Distance education has expanded significantly over the last decade, but the natural sciences have lagged in the implementation of this instructional mode. The abrupt onset of the COVID-19 pandemic left educational institutions scrambling to adapt curricula to distance modalities. With projected effects lasting through the 2020--21 academic year, this problem will not go away soon. Analysis of the literature has elucidated the costs and benefits of, as well as obstacles to, the implementation of e-learning, with a focus on undergraduate physics education. Physics faculty report that a lack of time to learn about research-driven innovation is their primary barrier to implementing it. In response, this paper is intended to help physics lecturers and lab instructors re-think their courses now that distance learning is far more prevalent due to the pandemic. This paper serves as an all-in-one guide of recommendations for successful distanced educational practices, with an emphasis on smartphones and social media. These technologies were chosen for their utility in a virtual environment. Additionally, this paper can be used as a resource for university administrators to adapt to the changing needs associated with new teaching modalities.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2008.07441,
  title  = {Feynman, Lewin, and Einstein Download Zoom: A Guide for Incorporating E-Teaching of Physics in a Post-COVID World},
  author = {Daniel J. O'Brien},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2008.07441},
  year   = {2021}
}

Comments

29 pages, 1 figure. The following article has been accepted by the American Journal of Physics. After it is published, it will be found at https://aapt.scitation.org/journal/ajp New version - conditionally accepted after external and editorial review. Minor changes made to structure and content