Professor Jim and Home Education

Professor Jim and Home Education

We had seen a lot of Professor Jim Al-Khalili in the last week or two, and will be seeing more of him in June at the Cheltenham Science Festival http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/science We also watched him give evidence to the Science and Technology Select Committee http://tinyurl.com/458ls55 as well as watching the excellent Everything and Nothing (BBC 4).

One of the things that Jim and others such as Professor Brian Cox seem to be concerned about is getting young people more interested in science. There seems to be a bit of a problem though, as the young people giving evidence to the Select Committee didn't seem to think much of the programmes or personalities involved with science in the media.

Ram is getting like that too. He heaved a sign one night after Horizon and said that he guess he would just have to get used to being bored for the rest of his life!

The young people were clear that one of the big turn offs for science is GCSE physics. Of course this is one of the many reasons why people like us home educate. In particular, I asked the question how would the school meet the needs of a bright child that can out think many in particle physics, but at the same time has learning difficulties.

By home educating we can meet the child where they are, and they don't have to sit bored by school science. Right now we have a few books on the go, such as Richard Feynman's University Lectures, and a PhD on acoustic microscopy and superconductors (I used to feel hard done by because I was the only one not married to a PhD but now I am glad of my friends!) Ram says that there are only two types of books; physics and non-fiction!

The internet has also helped with home education. After reading a book on superconductors we emailed the professor that wrote and asked for suggestions on further books (he couldn't really come up with any, apparently superconductors are for the post grads only) and we have found PhD papers from the likes of Brian amongst others, as well as Jim's lecture notes for his first year class. Thanks Jim!

Without the internet and the generosity of our university professors, physics would be a lot harder for home educators!