I did badly in high school physics because I was totally disinterested in the “just plug in the numbers” approach my teacher used. I signed up for the course because I was fascinated by the theoretical side; it was disappointing, to say the least.
I stuck with my extracurricular book reading about the Big Bang and star formation and string theory (for laypeople). I joined the physics program at university despite my poor mark in high school. The first year was organized very well at this university because it’s heavy on the “wow that’s neat” and philosophy of physics courses which inspire people to learn more. The rest of the time was immensely challenging but perhaps the most rewarding period of my life.
Humans crave understanding and narrative. Mathematics have to be explained in this way too, not with equations but with a story. Anyone can appreciate math in the right environment.
I did badly in high school physics because I was totally disinterested in the “just plug in the numbers” approach my teacher used. I signed up for the course because I was fascinated by the theoretical side; it was disappointing, to say the least.
I stuck with my extracurricular book reading about the Big Bang and star formation and string theory (for laypeople). I joined the physics program at university despite my poor mark in high school. The first year was organized very well at this university because it’s heavy on the “wow that’s neat” and philosophy of physics courses which inspire people to learn more. The rest of the time was immensely challenging but perhaps the most rewarding period of my life.
Humans crave understanding and narrative. Mathematics have to be explained in this way too, not with equations but with a story. Anyone can appreciate math in the right environment.