PHYSICS PROBLEM SOLVING

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Many former teachers and colleagues encouraged me, expressed an interest in this
work and made thoughtful comments: Dr. Jim Cederberg, Dr. Duane Olson, Dr. Dave
Nitz, Dr. Dave Dahl, Dr. Bob Jacobel, Dr. Amy Kolan, and former President Mel George
all of St. Olaf College; and colleagues from the American Association of Physics
Teachers: Allan Van Heuvlen, Thomas Rossing, Herschel Neuman, Fred Goldberg,
Curtis Heigelke, Roger Freedman, Peter Urone and Michael Zeilik.
I am grateful to Dr. Roger Johnson (Cooperative Learning and Science
Education), Dr. Larry Rudnick (Astronomy), and Dr. Charles Campbell (Physics) for
agreeing to serve on my final oral examination committee. The commitment of these
faculty to cooperative group problem solving is very much appreciated.
Two people never gave up on me: Dr. Patricia Heller and Dr. Fred Finley, my
advisers. Fred asked the hard questions and made me clarify my ideas. Pat, despite her
own heavy teaching and research load, always made time for me, always asked the right
questions, and never once failed to say “You’re doing a great job.” I could not have
asked for two better advisers. We form a well-functioning cooperative group of three!