PHYSICS PROFESSOR- DR. JEFF BECHTOLD, Teaching Methods & Style
What To Expect In Class:
In teaching I strive to provide natural balance to three components: lecture/explanation, examples, and discussion. I might begin one topic with a demonstration followed by a discussion followed by an exposition of the topic.
On another topic, I might lecture most of one class, and spend the entire next class doing problems and encouraging discussion. I believe all three components are essential and use student interaction to guide me on the timing and depth of coverage for each component.
My emphasis in teaching is on conceptual and physical understanding, which is then followed by the appropriate amount of mathematical reasoning and calculations that are put into context. Storylines that connect complicated ideas together are helpful in this regard. I try to put it all together with a “keep it as simple, fun, and interesting as possible” philosophy.