Enhancement of intuitive reasoning through precision teaching and simulations

We have studied how performance on the E&M (Electricity and Magnetism) portion of an Introductory Physics course may be enhanced by the careful choice of the exercises that the students perform. Exercises and homework problems are of two types; direct problems involve little more than the entry of numbers into a basic equation; and indirect problems requiring a solution strategy involving various subgoals which must be identified and achieved. By concentrating first on the development of basic skills through the technique of precision teaching and the use of simple direct problems, we show significant long term performance improvement, particularly among students at risk. We further examine how computer simulations can enhance intuitive reasoning and how the choice of a structured set of homework problems enhanced performance.