It does not seem to distinguish between teaching and learning, and it is growing increasingly disenchanted with the end results. It is aware of the human and physical resources wasted due to the large and growing student drop-out rates. Introductory physics courses are typically taught to large, passive audiences using lectures closely following the text. Occasional lecture demonstrations are included. However, television addicts may have little notion of consistency, since their world is made up of changing and contradictory images.
Couch potatoes have few logically consistent ideas about the physical world.
It is very important to realize that the typical student in an introductory class is not a clear blackboard upon which the teacher can write. Extensive erasing of erroneous non-Newtonian concepts must be done. Both teachers and students must be made aware of these non-Newtonian preconceptions and their conflict with successful modern ideas before the students can successfully master the Newtonian concepts. First, student interaction in small groups is known to be an effective tool. Second, continuous feedback from students via multiple oral questioning, quizzes, and exams is required.