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Phil teaches an introductory physics course, which focuses heavily on problem solving. He uses writing and reflection to reinforce what students are learning and to identify gaps in their understanding of complex problems. He does this by asking students to use a 2-column approach to solving each problem:
Work the problem
Explain the process you used so that a different audience would understand what you did and why you did it this way.
Next he asks the students to pinpoint where they had trouble explaining how they solved the problem so that they can more clearly see which areas of their problem-solving abilities need work. Putting the student in the role of "tutor" as they explain problem solving to another audience helps them understand the rationale behind concepts, reinforcing deeper learning about the topic.
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