I bet for some of these students, the goal of those classes is not to learn, it's to get enough information to pass tests so the students can check a box off on a prerequisites list so they can get their piece of paper. A student can review a recording of a lecture a month later to cram for a test. I imagine an "active learning" session is more difficult to record and review down the road. I think you have to reckon with the disparity in motivation between the teacher and the student in this situation. I imagine many of the students there don't really care about physics. They want to receive their information in as passive a way as possible so they can zone out during lectures. I think the article touches on that but reaches the wrong conclusion, relating it to an incorrect perception of the efficacy of the lesson instead of relating it to the students simply not wanting to put in the effort for something they probably don't care about.
That's my take on it as a former college student, anyway.
> I imagine many of the students there don't really care about physics.
This has been my experience, time and time again. If the student is interested in the subject matter, almost any educational method works tremendously well, because the failings are compensated for by the student.
If the student is just there to get past the class because of a requirement, it's quite hard for any method to work tremendously well. However, some methods (say small seminar vs large lecture) can be more conductive to triggering that interest "for its own sake".
But I well know I went through seminar-style classes of 15 or so students in subjects I didn't care about and didn't want to care about, and I performed as necessary to get through without repeating.
This study would seem to contradict that sentiment, unless you suggest that interest in specifically statics or fluids (the two subjects taught on the days studied) was narrowly triggered over an interest in mechanics in general.
> I imagine many of the students there don't really care about physics.
It might be, but AFAICS the study was conducted at Harvard and I believe students at prestige universities have much more will to study. If they chose physics, they are likely interested in it
That's my take on it as a former college student, anyway.