Perceptions of Teaching and Learning in Year One University Physics in Taiwan: Students' and Professors' Perspectives

This study investigated students' and professors' opinions of teaching and learning in university physics in Taiwan, in order to understand their perspectives of learning and teaching, and to evaluate the feasibility of implementing the notions of constructivism in physics classrooms. Data showed that both groups were more concerned about the inappropriateness of the current teaching content design, rather than the didactic teaching approach, which lacked learning engagement. The modification of the traditional one-way delivery teaching to an interactive way of teaching is perceived as subsidiary to the issue of teaching reform. The professors seemed to be more concerned with the existing barriers than the potential strength of the implementation of an interactive teaching approach, such as group discussion. The findings implied that a transmission view of learning still firmly exists in both the students' and physics professors' mind, which might impede the implementation of a constructivist way of teaching. Suggestions for the improvements of learning and teaching of university physics in Taiwan are also proposed.