2018 Millikan Medal Award Lecture: Breaking out of the physics silo

Abstract

According to his autobiography, Robert Millikan became a physics teacher when his Greek professor at Oberlin College asked him to teach a preparatory class in physics at the college. I'm sure this was not an easy transition for Millikan but the world is better off for him having been obliged to venture into unfamiliar territory. Most of us would prefer to stay within our comfort zone, especially in the classroom. But sometimes we decide (or are forced, kicking and screaming) to try something new that can make us flourish as teachers. Millikan had good advice for anyone faced with a new challenge: "All right, said I, you will have to take the consequences, but I will try and see what I can do with it." In this presentation I will offer some suggestions, grounded in fortuitous events that have caused me to grow as a teacher, for ways to take risks, leave the physics silo and learn new things. Your teaching will be better for it.