How can I improve the learning success in my physics exercise class? Which strategies can help me to step out of the standard exercise-solving automatism? How can I “hook and hold” my students? In this PolyBook we try to answer these questions by providing a didactical tool-box of materials for physics-teaching TAs.

The idea for this project arose from our observation that in practice many TAs struggle to implement techniques which they have learnt in general basic-teaching courses. Furthermore, the time it takes to prepare an engaging lesson usually exceeds the preparation time which TAs can invest in addition to further duties like correcting homework and managing their class. With our examples we would like to support TAs in preparing high-quality exercise sessions for their class which go beyond frontal exercise solving and which both students and the teacher can enjoy together.

The materials presented in this polybook are developed for the specific case of 13 exercise sessions on Physics I within study program for biology students at ETHZ.  The toolbox consists of concept questions, summarizing organizers and case-based calculation examples – combined with some ideas on how to implement it in class. The materials were designed to engage the students  fostering their active thinking in order to encourage development of higher-level competences.