Using Just In Time Teaching In Dynamics And In Mechanics Of Materials

Over the last 8 years, the physics educational community has developed a new learning strategy known as Just-in-Time Teaching (JiTT). In this approach, students are required to answer short questions posted on the web at least two hours before class. Questions are typically open-ended and conceptual, rather than mathematical. The instructor then reads through the student answers before class and tailors the classroom experience based on student understanding. For new topics, many students will appreciate some aspects of the idea, but different students will grasp different aspects of the subject matter. By presenting the answers from the students in class, the instructor can build up an understanding of the complex idea. In this way, students feel greater ownership of the course, come better prepared to class, and have more productive interactions with the professor. This year, we utilized the technique in two mechanics courses, dynamics and mechanics of materials. Student perceptions of the technique were mixed, depending on the type of implementation and the current workload in the course. Examples of the use of JiTT in these courses are presented and a framework for applying the techniques to mechanics is described. The instructors were pleased with how JiTT provoked student thought, and the authors provide some insight into their own workload requirements when using JiTT.