Professor Christopher Edwards,
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
"Teaching 'Difficult' Subjects: Some Observations from Teaching Thermodynamics to Sophomores, Seniors, and Graduate Students"
Having taught Thermodynamics to engineers for the last ten years, I have been surprised to find that there are just a few key principles that can make a significant difference in the experience of both the instructor and students. In this talk I share observations that may be of use to new instructors teaching what are sometimes perceived to be difficult subjects. Not too surprisingly, these principles are exceedingly simple and have perhaps more to do with human nature (the student's and the instructor's) than with the subject being taught.