As described in the page on my Physics 131, I like to present content in terms of concepts first. I want students to think conceptually and then move to translating that story to mathematics. I refined this process this past semester and next time, I want energy the energy story to be presented thus:
- What types of energy do you have at the beginning/end?
- Are the totals the same or did some come in or out?
- What came in or out?
In general, ask them to structure it as:
- Initial energies
- What went in/out and as heat/work.
- Final Energies
- What went in/out and as heat/work.
Also, as we did on the forces unit: go through all the problems for the unit doing just the story first. Ask them to keep their work. Then cycle back through and solve.