What It Takes To Be A Cool and Effective Teacher: The Prof. Walter Lewin Way

   Every student wants to have a cool teacher, and every teacher aspires to become a cool teacher and not just simply a cool teacher but an effective and cool teacher that every student loved and remembered.  But then what it takes to become a cool and effective teacher?  Recently I’ve meet an awesome professor on YouTube (and I want to meet him personally) and he is really extremely amazing teacher.  I was spellbound but simply watching his lecture on video.  That extremely cool teacher is Prof. Walter Lewin. The 71-year professor teaches physics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).  He teaches in the most unorthodox ways just show to his students the zany beauty of science.

In one of his lecture Prof. Walter Lewin swings at the bottom of a 15-foot pendulum. He is swinging high and wide, his rapt audience of 300 counting off each cycle. He did that at the end of his lecture on Hooke’s Law, in which he proves the pendulum’s period, or time that it takes to complete one cycle, is not affected by the mass at the bottom — in this case, his own body (cool huh…).

On other occasions he suck helium and continue his lecture sounding like a Dutch Daffy Duck just to emphasize the differences in the speed of sound in certain gases. There was also an instance that he shoot across the classroom stage astride a bicycle mounted with fire extinguishers to demonstrate a rocket’s change in momentum. (Can you do that teacher?)

According to Prof. Lewin the memorization of formulas and equations is not the most effective way to teach. Teachers must, he believes, engage students with action. 

You have to challenge [students]. You have to be a little fun. I could make them sit on the edge of their seats, I could make them wet their pants." — Walter Lewin .

In one of his most dramatic and popular lectures the demonstrated the Hooke’s Law by facing down a wrecking ball.  It involves putting his face in the trajectory of a 33-pound steel wrecking ball.  He holds the ball near his face and tells his audience if he provides even the slightest push, rather than just allowing the ball to swing away on its own momentum, it will be his last lecture. Students edge forward in their seats as he begins the countdown. "Five, four, thee, two, one," the countdown began and Prof. Lewis very, very, gently releases the wrecking ball.  It swings back on a wide arc until it loses forward momentum and then drops back in the other direction, headed right for Lewin’s face.  The 71-year old PhdD degree holder professor close his eyes as a puff of wind from the ball blows kisses to his face, but the ball itself stops just millimeters from the tip of his chin. Students gasp.

"Physics works! And I’m still alive," Lewin exclaims to thunderous applause. (Watch the video)

It’s clear that those present or watching online will not soon forget this lesson on the conservation of mechanical energy — nor the man who taught it to them.

From email responses to his lectures, he’s purportedly help snap some viewers out of depression, inspired career changes and even attracted two marriage proposals.  But Lewin says one of his most meaningful notes was from a man claiming to be from Iraq.

"In spite of the bad occupation and the war against my lovely Iraq," it reads, "you made me love USA because you are there and MIT is there."

Way to go Teacher!!!  You ROCK!