Many students hold preconceived notions about science subjects. At Physics Academy, we meet a fair share of students who initially feel highly intimidated by our curriculum. They often complain that the subject is simply too difficult, abstract, or dry.
While most students feel excited to learn during early secondary school, many lose interest the moment they fail a test. These academic struggles are completely valid. However, there are highly effective ways to overcome these problems. One of the absolute best methods is to rediscover and nurture your love for physics. With the right mindset and a passionate tutor, you can easily see the subject in a fun and interesting light.
How to Reignite Your Love for Physics
A genuine passion for science does not happen overnight. Here is our expert advice on how you can actively nurture your interest today:
1. Make Learning Fun Through Experiments
Start by changing your mindset about Physics. Rather than looking at the subject from an exam point of view, see it in a more positive light. This means that instead of seeing Physics problems as difficult exam questions to solve and ace, view them as fun brain teasers. When students learn in such stimulating ways, Physics no longer becomes a “stressful” subject, especially since they’ve now been exposed to the fun side of Physics.
Just like how kids are taught through play to keep them engaged, the same can be applied to secondary and JC students. Make things interesting by testing out the Physics concepts you’ve learnt through experimentation. Building an experiment from scratch and watching the results unfold will provide a more riveting experience than sitting by a textbook and memorising the text. With lots of basic experiments to try out, it’ll be easy to see all the Physics concepts in your textbook in action. One easy example would be creating your own marble roller coaster to understand the conversion of potential energy to kinetic energy. Experiments like these not only help you learn about Physics but fuels your creative side, too.
2. Dare to Question
It takes the understanding of simple concepts to comprehend more complex things. Most great scientists and inventors were able to come up with new and complex ideas because they were never satisfied with surface-level information and simply wanted to know more. Therefore, don’t limit yourself to learning through textbooks, especially since we live in an age where information is easily accessible.
Curious about how a plasma ball works or how the Northern lights develop? Perhaps there are concepts you do not understand? Take the small step to do your own research to open up doors of learning opportunities to gain insight into related Physics topics like static electricity and electromagnetism. This can be done by leveraging on the many credible sources that allow you to delve deeper into a range of Physics concepts. Expand your knowledge and slowly tackle more complex ideas once you’ve fully understood the simpler ones. This method of discovering the wonders of Physics through your own research can also make you more self-motivated.
3. Feed Off of Your Curiosity
Let’s face it – when we’re engrossed in a particular topic, we tend to go down a rabbit hole of consuming all the videos and websites related to it. Starting with just one video, we end up on another end of YouTube, watching other clips of different yet related topics. This can work with Physics too.
When a subject or hobby piques your interest, you’re compelled to know more – so why not take advantage of that innate curiosity? After all, immersing yourself in a subject matter does not always require rigid problem solving as methods of learning Physics are always flexible. Since Google and YouTube are two popular go-to sources for information, proactively read up or watch videos about theories and topics that you find interesting.
At Physics Academy, our Physics tutors make it a point to engage students and make lessons fun and exciting by linking concepts to interesting phenomena. This is because we believe that one of the ways to cultivate student’s love of physics is to find ways to incorporate them into things that interest them.
4. Apply Physics to Your Life
Simply reading your textbooks might not be enough to keep you interested, especially when it comes to subjects like Physics. Unlike other subjects that students can easily ace by merely memorising texts, Physics must be applied to be understood. This means that simply memorising things is not always an effective way of retaining the information that you’ve learnt.
So, what else can be done beyond referring to your textbooks? Here’s what we’ve discovered in our experience of teaching students in our Physics tuition classes in Singapore: Applying the concepts you’ve learnt offers a more stimulating experience to help you fully comprehend and recall all the new information you’ve acquired.
The more you make it a habit to apply what you’ve learnt about Physics to some of your day-to-day tasks, the more it’ll come naturally to you. So, pay attention to the Physics around you! From the speed at which you’ll need to walk to cover a distance over a fixed period of time to the shape of a water droplet, everything can be explained by Physics.
5. Seek Help When Needed
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Whether it’s your physics teacher, your private physics tutor, or even your classmates, don’t be ashamed to approach anyone if there’s something you need clarification on or need help understanding. This practice is especially crucial in a classroom setting where a teacher usually goes through a topic and it is assumed that everyone understands what has been taught. Speak up when the teacher encourages the class to ask questions. Moreover, when you have questions for your teachers or Physics tutors, it not only lets them know that you’re following along but also allows them to gauge how they can better explain concepts to the rest of the class.
If additional help is needed outside of school, enrolling in Physics tuition classes can also do wonders. Be it one-to-one classes with a private Physics tutor or a group class, Physics tuition classes can supplement and reinforce all the things you’ve learnt in school.
We Make Physics Easy to Understand
Whether it’s in Physics one-to-one sessions or group classes with your peers, we at Physics Academy make Physics easier for you to understand and love. With our full suite of Physics resources, students will gain access to an avenue of revision even outside of lesson hours.
Looking to fall in love with Physics again? Get in touch with us today to learn more about how Physics Academy can make it possible. Join our FREE 7-day trial classroom and see what our team of Physics tutors can offer.