MIT still hasn't figured out a great way to teach physics, I'd look at this as another attempt.
Currently MIT offers 4 classes that count for the 8.01 (mechanics) requirement: 8.012, 8.01, 8.01L, or 8.011
Before they even place you in a class, they have you take an analytical exam to determine which class is recommended. This happens during orientation before classes begin, and it's the first of many things MIT does to help you pass the 8.01 requirement.
8.011 is the easiest, but they don't let you take it unless you've already failed one of the other subjects.
8.01 and 8.01L cover the same content, but 8.01L offers an extra month to go over that content. If you try and pass 8.01, but end up with a D (non-passing), they'll let you switch to 8.01L for the extra month.
8.01 is also a TEAL class, which is specially structured (and costs a lot of professor time) to encourage students to work together, and offers time in class to individually work on examples (as opposed to just listening to a professor).
The amount of effort MIT puts in to getting kids to pass the 8.01 requirement on their first try is exceptional. But with all their attempts, many still need to take 8.011.
I don't have numbers, but I'd guess that MIT spends more money teaching students mechanics than any other single graduation requirement. That probably made it a good guinea pig for this course, being that it's focused on education research.
I think the problem is that many of the stronger incoming students at MIT (at least from the US) will have already done AP Physics and thus not be taking mechanics at all.
Currently MIT offers 4 classes that count for the 8.01 (mechanics) requirement: 8.012, 8.01, 8.01L, or 8.011
Before they even place you in a class, they have you take an analytical exam to determine which class is recommended. This happens during orientation before classes begin, and it's the first of many things MIT does to help you pass the 8.01 requirement.
8.011 is the easiest, but they don't let you take it unless you've already failed one of the other subjects.
8.01 and 8.01L cover the same content, but 8.01L offers an extra month to go over that content. If you try and pass 8.01, but end up with a D (non-passing), they'll let you switch to 8.01L for the extra month.
8.01 is also a TEAL class, which is specially structured (and costs a lot of professor time) to encourage students to work together, and offers time in class to individually work on examples (as opposed to just listening to a professor).
The amount of effort MIT puts in to getting kids to pass the 8.01 requirement on their first try is exceptional. But with all their attempts, many still need to take 8.011.
I don't have numbers, but I'd guess that MIT spends more money teaching students mechanics than any other single graduation requirement. That probably made it a good guinea pig for this course, being that it's focused on education research.