Peer Review

Blaise Pascal ~ Pressure

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Sep 20, 2022 by Engineering

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

This video concerns the development of the atmospheric pressure discovered by Blaise Pascal by means of the scientific biography of his author. He was a mathematician, physicist, philosopher, and theologian from France. The video describes the most relevant issues in the life of Blaise Pascal which influenced his discovery.

Type of Material:

Presentation (video).

Recommended Uses:

It could be recommended for courses on history of technology as well as on thermodynamic and fluid mechanics courses in any engineering degree. Useful for traditional and hybrid/blended teaching (Play in class for courses on the history of technology, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics in any engineering degree; Class discussion; Discussion forum; Individual)

Technical Requirements:

Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers were used to access the material. It seems that all facilities are active for any browser.

Identify Major Learning Goals:

The video is addressed to engineers and students of engineering degrees interested in learning about the development of historical facts and laws of Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics.

Main Learning goals:

1 - Biography of Blaise Pascal: from his youth until his death and his religious life;

2 - Contributions to Mathematics and Physical Sciences such: - Projective geometry, - Experiment of liquids which proves that there was an atmospheric pressure and this pressure depends on the weather and - Construction of the Pascalina arithmetic machine.

Target Student Population:

High School, College Upper Division

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

Basic knowledge of physics.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: This video summarizes Pascal's life from his youth until his death, as well as the main works of Pascal concerning natural and applied sciences. It also elucidates the role of scientific societies in recognizing scientific discoveries. The historical circumstances of the discovery of atmospheric pressure and is clearly explained in the video. The video presents the scientific life of Blaise Pascal and the influence of social and cultural factors involved in the professional development of scientists. It highlights how discovery in science and technology is conceived as a social task, combining actual knowledge and cultural and social behavior of the existing society. It also shows rigorously how the scientific method works, and the interaction between scientist to boost science progress. It reveals also the role played by scientific societies to give recognition of discoveries. The structure of contents is correct. The video summarizes quite well and accurately the discovery of the atmospheric pressure.
Concerns:: None

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: This video is a very useful tool for illustrating Blaise Pascal's biography, as well as an effective teaching tool that will supplement existing course. This documentary includes film clips and video sequences that illustrate the characters and crucial moments in his life. Thus, the most obvious key elements of this educational video are the filmed characters, the filmed experiences, and the text. The addition of translation and subtitling in multiple languages is another educational support. The material could be used for self-learning as well as a supplementary material in traditional or blended/hybrid courses on history of technology. Also useful for basic courses on thermodynamics and fluid mechanics. The learning objectives are clearly stated.
Concerns:: As corresponds to video materials, to become useful for effective learning it should be combined with extra exercises and quizzes, or to become integral part of additional lectures on the topic of physics in history. It doesn’t allow to measure learning outcomes.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: The audiovisual content of this video supports, helps and boosts the effectiveness of learning. The video is a standalone material, easy to use. Only connection to the Internet and link to the video repository is needed. It can be reproduced in computer, iPad and smartphone. Visual design of the video corresponds to the concept of documentary film, representing historical facts by means of actors, pictures of antique instruments, publications and drawings.
Concerns:: Quizzes or questions added to this video could be of interest, as they will encourage receptors to be more attentive and interactive. As corresponds to video materials, limited interactivity.

Other Issues and Comments:: The video is aimed at engineers and engineering students who want to learn about the thermodynamics and fluid mechanics. This video depicts the major stages of Blaise Pascal's life, including his youth, scientific discoveries, suffering, and religious beliefs. The author demonstrates how necessity was the mother of invention in Pascal's life, such as when he invented the calculator to assist his father. Also, the author demonstrates that most great discoveries have appeared not through the isolated effort of a talented creator, but through the labors of researchers and made possible by the overall progress of science and technology, such as the discoveries of atmospheric pressure from Torricelli's experiment.
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