MASTERY EXERCISES IN FRICTION - SCIENCE

This sequence of mastery exercises has been prepared to demonstrate Mastery Learning to the Papua New Guinea Department of Education.

So much nonsense has been written about this strategy that it is time to demonstrate beyond all doubt. The inventor of Mastery Learning intended breaking skills down to basics from the higher level skills.

The idea was for the teacher to take a concept such as heat / friction and set down an inventory of every possible application. Then the students and teacher would solve the problems.

The teacher knew the related theory having used the theory to identify the practical applications. But the students are not advised yet. They work out the related theory having solved the problems.

But some fool teachers in the United States removed the basics and increased research. They called it Outcome Based Education and blamed the founder Dr Benjamin Bloom for its failure.

Mastery Learning was intended to pass the slower students and lift high the more capable students. It was a response to the US Government paranoia on the Russians sending up the satellite Sputnik.

MASTERY LEARNING IN SCIENCE

The sequence in Friction below consists of 70 small mastery exercises appropriate for primary school students supported and guided by the teachers. All have a common theme of friction. Solving one problem provides the key to the next problem and so on.

This module in friction could be submitted to a design team of science teachers who might be able to add dozens more exercises. The sequences could be rearranged and added to from the class room.

Some problems may be easily solved by students. But they may not have thought of the issue in that way.

Problems that are interesting could be given more focus by teacher and students. They may not have thought of electricity generated by friction from blood passing through the blood system. Then they learn that sharks can detect the electric pulses from fish and swimmers.

They may not have thought that the world depends on friction. Without friction, we could not walk, climb or run. Cars could not run. Pulleys could not work.

We start with the real situations and explain what is happening. Then we work out the theory behind the scenarios. This is INDUCTIVE LEARNING. There is no focus on theory as we see in classes today. We answer the problem and the question WHY?

 
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What happens when we rub our hands together?

Explain how villagers make fires with sticks.

Feel tires of a car that driven a long way. What do you feel?

What happens to moving cars if we pour oil on the road?

When do most moving cars have accidents?

Do drivers have to move slower or faster during pouring rain?

How does friction cause danger to a racing car?

Why do many cars have accidents on a bend in the road?

What causes a vehicle to overturn and roll?

How does a propeller make the boat go forward?

How does a propeller make an aircraft go forward?

Why can flies and lizards climb walls?

What problem would a snake have in moving if no friction?

Explain how friction is reduced in the skin of an aircraft?

Is there high or low friction in a bird’s feathers?

Explain the structure of a lizard’s feet.

How do we light a match?

Is it better to light a match on a match box or a window?

How do we stop the hinges on doors from sticking and squeaking?

How do we keep the engine of a car cool and running smoothly?

Why do we have to change the oil in an engine?

Why are there crackling noises when we comb our hair?

Do we hear the noises on a hot dry day or a cool wet day?

Why is there loud noise in thunder?

Why does black dust gather on a ceiling fan?

What are the best boots to wear on the Kokoda Track?

Why are there grooves on the rubber sole?

How do football boots increase friction?

How can friction cause explosions in mines and factories?

What happens to our hands when we slide quickly down a rope?

If we wear shoes for many months, what happens to the soles?

What causes electricity in our bodies?

Sharks detect electricity in fish. What causes electricity in fish

and other animals?

Draw a shark and dolphin. How do they reduce friction?

How do ship designers reduce friction?

How do we know there is electricity in our bodies?

Why do car tires lose their rubber?

Why do some tires lose the rubber quickly?

What is the best to slide on - rock? water? coral? or mud?

What is friction?

What occurs when there is friction?

Give examples of friction causing heat?

How do we reduce friction between pieces of steel rubbed together?

What would happen in the world if there was no physical friction?

What are the best tiles for the floor of a bathroom?

What holds a nail in place on a piece of wood?

What causes landslides in the highlands of Papua New Guinea?

How does friction help us to climb a rope?

What happens when an engine seizes?

How does friction occur between people?

What causes friction between people and animals?

What happens to the temperature of the relationship when friction occurs?

How do we remove friction between people?

What are the polite ways of reducing friction between people?

What is the highest level of friction between two groups of people?

Advanced problems in friction

Why does an asteroid trail fire on entering the earth's atmosphere?

What is the main problem facing space shuttles returning to earth?

What is a friction rash?

How do we treat a friction rash?

What causes an aircraft to lift off on take-off?

How does a violin player make sound?

These problems explore all possible aspects of friction. This is an exercise in exploration of the practical scenarios.

Students learn general knowledge as well as knowledge of friction. They learn to explain in their own words, written and spoken.

Students could be interviewed one at a time at the teacher's table on 5 problems. Most students in PNG schools never speak.

It is not just effort in mindlessly copying theory into a student's work book as we see in PNG schools today.

By the end of 2015, this sequence in friction could have 80 more exercises provided by class room teachers, students and design team teachers. The Department would develop a memory bank of exercises.

Teachers could be invited to submit their new exercises to the design team to be included in the next edition. Teachers are becoming involved.

There is always revision. As students grow intellectually, they will see all earlier problems in more complex ways and with more connections.

We already see in the exercises above the links with static electricity, motion, physiology and personal relationships.

By end of grade 8, some students should be able to achieve 100% correct of the (say) 1200 science and biology mastery exercises. One book said 60% correct 60% of the time. Students can do better than that.