Use of three-force member concept for rigid bodies whenever possible, to circumvent the more taxing use of equilibrium equations has been long-established. However, most students fail to reap its benefits due to a number of reasons, including the fact that its importance is hardly emphasized to them; skills and details needed for the concept are…

This paper reports on themes that arose in an investigation of university lecturers' views on the teaching of linear algebra. This focus on themes was the initial part of a study concentrating on four areas: What is important to teach in a first course in linear algebra? Are there teaching methods which are particularly suited for such a course?…