Teaching and its impact

Recently I got this email from one of the students who took my optics course:


I don’t know what to say…I am humbled is only thing that comes to my mind..

Fyi: this student is deeply interested in theoretical high energy physics, and I had a great time interacting with him during my course..

Teaching is enriching.

…

Next day:


After I posted the email by the student, there has been a flood of messages from many other students (current+former) sharing their experience of our interaction. I want to thank them all🙏🏽 and reiterate some points :

1.I continue to learn through teaching.

2.Learning needs context. Historical viewpoint is one of the ways.

3.Teaching has positively impacted my research and writing.

4. Technology can positively aid classroom teaching, including teaching on the board. Strategically adapting audio-visuals can enhance discussion in the class.

5. A course is a starting point to learn something. Many a times, the actual learning happens long after a course is completed.

6. One of the greatest challenges in academia is to measure impact. In research or in teaching, it is not easy to quantify how our work can influence the society.

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Author: G.V. Pavan Kumar

Namaste, Hola & Welcome from G.V. Pavan Kumar. I am a Professor of Physics at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, India. My research interests are : (1) Optics & Soft Matter: Optically Induced Forces – Assembly, Dynamics & Function; (2) History and Philosophy of Science – Ideas in Physical Sciences. I am interested in the historical and philosophical evolution of ideas and tools in the physical sciences and technology. I research the intellectual history of past scientists, innovators, and people driven by curiosity, and I write about them from an Indian and Asian perspective. My motivation is to humanize science. In the same spirit, I write and host my podcast Pratidhvani – Humanizing Science.

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