By G. Sánchez, from La Gaceta de los Negocios, Madrid 20/10/2008
Largas definiciones, incorrecciones, ligerezas y conceptos innecesarios son algunos de los defectos encontrados en los libros de texto de física y matemáticas destinados a los alumnos de Bachillerato. Según un informe elaborado por el Colegio Libre de Eméritos sobre los manuales de estas dos asignaturas, “el principal problema de los libros de texto españoles es que no enseñan a pensar, sino a utilizar fórmulas”.Concretamente, el físico Enrique Álvarez, que ha investigado sobre los libros en esta área, señala que “no están destinados a reflexionar sobre la experiencia, sino a usar formulas, muchas de las cuales ni siquiera se deducen, cosa que ya de por sí es bastante grave”, concluye. Es muy importante aprender a preguntar, y una gran parte de la creatividad consiste en hacerse las preguntas correctas, añade.
“Aunque fascinante, la física no es sencilla”, señala Álvarez. El problema de muchos alumnos, explica el profesor, es que huyen de lo difícil. “No sé dónde está la solución, pero sí creo saber dónde no está: no puede ser positivo hacerles creer que la física es fácil”. En los textos españoles analizados, la física se presenta como un impresionante edificio lleno de fórmulas, con una justificación retórica, pero lejana en el experimento. La física a este nivel debería, a juicio del experto, enseñarse fundamentalmente en el laboratorio, y sólo después formalizar ligeramente las experiencias, fomentando el espíritu creativo de los alumnos.
Por su parte, el matemático Antonio Córdoba apunta que en los libros que él ha analizado “las demostraciones que presentan una mínima dificultad han sido eliminadas de los textos”.
También critica que “los autores pretenden que el lector pueda, por sí mismo, y sin ayuda del profesor, aprender las materias propuestas. Lo definen todo, yendo incluso más allá de lo que la prudencia recomendaría”. Además, continúa, “manifiestan una influencia clara de las corrientes pedagógicas más pedantes”. Destaca que a veces la presentación es poco limpia, y esto distrae la atención.
1) Analize the point of view of the author of the article.
2) Then, give your opinion about it.
The author wants us to know that there is something beyond the physical formulas, and he said that the books today are easier, and there, the students can found wherever they want. So, it says that we must never make the effort of thinking, because we can found the information throughout the books. And he would like students to feel the physics in other ways, for example in studying laboratories, thinking why the formulas … I think that the conclusion of this men is that every year that pass, the students in general do less, and maybe the academicals level is less than a few years. Maybe yes, but if this happens, in the future we will not have to think, because will be machines that will do this for us. (Is complicated, I don’t know if you understand me)
I think that this is a good point of view, but maybe, they can do this in Batxillerat, because not everyone wants to study physics or chemistry in their lives. But, yes, maybe we can do the things more logical, not always all mechanical, like operations, formulas, and learn, learn and learn, but never think. This is not so good too. So maybe we can do something that stay between these things.
See you in clas =)
a) The point of view of the author is that the school’s books are easier than few years before. He thinks that now we haven’t got to think because in the books are all the answer that we need, so now we study all the letter of the book without prove anything, he says that prove is important , it’s more important that study all the formulas, because if you don’t prove, you don’t understand the formula, you apply it an that’s all. He also says that now we do physics throught the book, and de thinks that physics are to do in the laboratories, to learn more and to see the things that we have to study later.
So, the conclusion of the author is that the students now have the things more easier, because they have all explain in the book.
b) My opinion about this , is that it’s true that in the school books all is esplain with letters or with formulas and never there is a prove about something, and I thing that it’s true that now we never ask some things because we have all explain in the book. I think that it’s more easier to study doing experiments and doing proves of the formulas, but now in the books , this, doesn’t exists.
So, my conclusion is that the more appropiate books are the books that have letter and formulas, but also have explanations of the formulas, proves, experiments…
1) Analize the point of view of the author of the article.
The author wants to explain us that all the books of mathematics and physics explain the things easier that years ago. He says that now we only have a lot of definitions and the formula, but we don’t have any proof of the formula or any experiment to explain an specific thing. Like Clàudia says, the author says that if we don’t proof the formula we don’t understand it, we only apply and apply and we never ask to us: Why is like this?. The author says that in the camp of physics the books show us that physics are easier but the aurthor says that physics is a subject that we have to do in laboratories (like Clàudia says), in specific places that study physics very well. In conlcusion the author says that now the live of student is more easier that few time ago, and now we only read and learn but without understanding well. And in the future for the students will be more easier than now.
2) Then, give your opinion about it.
My opinion is that what the author says it’s true in the school books we only have definitions, text and one formula, anything more. But some teachers one or two times have explained us a formula in very detail. And now we only apply the formula and we never ask somehting because we have all in the book. Like Clàudia says, I think that physics is more easier studying doing experimetns and proving things. To fininsh I would like to say that the best books will be with letter, formulas with its explanations, some experiments to do and some proofs too.
a) The point of view that the author give us is that the books are easier than few years ago. Without the proof of the formula we won’t never ask us why the formula is like this and not like that as Miquel says. We only have a lot of definitions and formulas, and the author says that this is a bad way to study if we only read and look at the formulas because then we have to resolve the problem, or the formula without any demostration. He says that the students’ books of the future will be more easier than they are now, and in the books all will be explained.
The author also says that physics is a subject that we have to study in laboratories because they try to understand that physics are easier.
So in conclusion the author says that the way of study of the students is easier than few years ago, and that it will be more easier in the future because we have all explained in the book without demostrations and without our doubts.
b) My opinion about the text is that as the author says we have all explained in the book, and we never ask questions because all is explained, as Clàudia says. And I’m agree with Clàudia and Miquel because study physics will be more easier doing experiments and proofs because then we can see the processes, and then understand it.
a)The author wants to tell us that nowadays the physics and maths’ books give us all the information and in this way we aren’t motivate to challenge ourselves to discover and to think about new things and experiences, but this is for a reason: the students, now, if they don’t know how to solve a problem they don’t try it, they leave it, ‘cause they want to be apart from difficult things.
b) I think that’s true that almost all the books have all the information, and I think that our Math book is a good example for other book, because there are activities that challenge ourselve to go beyond and to discover new things, like let’s go beyond, or math for though… And that’s what I think tha all the books should have this soft of activities.
In my opinion they have to be like when a baby wants a sweet but he don’t want to walk and you put the sweet in a table near him but he has to walk to catch it, and then he does it… a motivation something to introduce us to discover new interesting thins.
Have a nice holidays!
Mariona:D