The Conversation recently published a piece by Dr. Clausell Mathis, Assistant Professor of Physics in the Lyman Briggs College and of Science Education in the Department of Teacher Education at Michigan State University titled 'Why U.S. Schools Need to Shake Up the Way they Teach Physics".
His message is that we, as a country, need to find ways to teach physics to students in a more engaging way; a way that makes it relevant to their lives. America faces significant disparities in physics education. Access to physics varies widely, with suburban schools typically offering it, while urban and rural schools often do not. Even where physics is taught, the focus is frequently on rote memorization rather than real-world applications. This issue is compounded by a lack of effort from some teachers to engage students more effectively and by the additional challenges faced by poorer and nonwhite students. Highlighting how physics relates to everyday activities, like sports or cooking, could make the subject more relatable and stimulating for students.
