Improved learning of basic mechanics by student active teaching methods

Abstract

The teaching of the basic courses in mechanics at Luleå University of Technology is carried out as lessons. However, the tightening of the economic resources has resulted in larger classes and a considerable reduction of the number of lessons. With well over 30 students in the class most of the advantages with lessons are lost. The lessons tend towards formal lectures. The teaching loses in quality and will not be effective for the students' learning. Mechanics is a subject in which the theory is very close coupled to our everyday surroundings (e.g. vehicles, constructions, machines etc.). To be able to put the theory into practice a deep understanding is important. The main purpose of this project is therefore to get the student to take a larger responsibility for acquiring knowledge and under-standing, and also gain experiences of how to organise the learning and how to work in groups, i.e. an overall method for studying. A second aim is to make the teaching more effective in that the teacher will be involved mainly in those items which the students find difficult and need help with. Important is then to produce methods to find those items on which the teaching should be focused.