2009 AAPT Physics Days

NSTA Area Conference, Minneapolis, MN
Friday, October 30, 2009
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Minneapolis Convention Center, L100A

1. 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

Presenter(s): Paul Nienaber (Saint Mary's University of Minnesota: Winona, MN

Session: Norton Nabs a Nu
Explore some important moments in the history of neutrino physics using the light-hearted approach.

2. 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Presenter(s): Michael Crofton (Spring Lake Park High School: Spring Lake Park, MN)

Session: Models and Modeling in the High School Physics Classroom
Modeling Instruction is a constructivist approach that organizes high school physics around a few fundamental models. We'll look at its implementation in the classroom.

3. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 

Presenter(s): Cynthia Cattell (University of Minnesota, Twin Cities: Minneapolis, MN); Nancy Bresnahan (Hopkins High School: Minnetonka, MN); Jon Anderson (Centennial High School: Circle Pines, MN); Claire Hypolite (Edison High School: Minneapolis, MN); Louise Weldon (Tartan Senior High School: North Oakdale, MN)

Session: Physics Force
This entertaining show features large-scale (the bigger the better!) demonstrations presented by Physics Force, an outreach program of the University of Minnesota School of Physics and Astronomy.

4. 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. 

Presenter(s): Leon Hsu (University of Minnesota, Twin Cities: Minneapolis, MN)

Session: Solar Cell Physics
Explore the physics and applications of solar cells, as well as ways to introduce this topic in the introductory physics classroom.

5. 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. 

Presenter(s): Steve Ethen (Burnsville High School: Burnsville, MN); Andy Rundquist (Hamline University: St. Paul, MN)

Session: Physics Make and Take
Come make a stripped down generator, a magnetic field detector, and a light meter.

6. 3:30p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Presenter(s): Steve Ethen (Burnsville High School: Burnsville, MN); Andy Rundquist (Hamline University: St. Paul, MN)

Session: Physics Make and Take: Part II
Come make a stripped down generator, a magnetic Field detector, and a light meter.

NSTA Area Conference, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Friday, November 13, 2009
8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty Six, Crystal Ballroom Salon IV

1. 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

Presenter(s): Robin Hori (Miami Country Day School: Miami, FL); David Kirkpatrick (Coral Park High School: Miami, FL)

Session: Transforming Your Science Classroom with Modeling Instruction (Part 1)
Learn how to implement modeling instruction in your classroom. This is the first of a two-part session.

2.  9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Presenter(s): Robin Hori (Miami Country Day School: Miami, FL); David Kirkpatrick (Coral Park High School: Miami, FL)

Session: Transforming Your Science Classroom with Modeling Instruction (Part 2)
Participants will engage in activities to learn how to implement Modeling Instruction in their classroom. Second of a double session.

3. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Presenter(s): Eric Brewe  (Florida International University: Miami, FL)

Session: Promoting Interaction in Your Science Classroom with Personal Whiteboards
Learn how to increase student interaction in the classroom through the use of whiteboards.

4. 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Presenter(s): Jorge Rodriguez (Florida International University: Miami, FL); Juan Catala (Miami Lakes Educational Center: Miami Lakes, FL)

Session: Particle Physics in the Classroom with QuarkNet
Bring the excitement of particle physics into the classroom with QuarkNet. This is the first of a two-part session.

5. 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Presenter(s): Laird Kramer (Florida International University: Miami, FL); David Jones (Florida International University: Miami, FL)

Session: Bridging the Gaps: Physics Student to Preservice Teacher to Inservice Teacher
Learning communities provide members with opportunities to collaborate with colleagues; enhance their content, pedagogical, and content pedagogical knowledge; and provide mentoring.

Fort Lauderdale Convention Center, Grand Floridian Ballroom G

6. 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Presenter(s): Juan Catala (Miami Lakes Educational Center: Miami Lakes, FL); Tom Jordan (University of Florida: Gainesville, FL)

Session: Classroom Particle Physics with QuarkNet's Cosmic Ray ELab

Bring the excitement of particle physics into the classroom with QuarkNet's Cosmic Ray ELab. This is the second of a part-two session.

NSTA Area Conference, Phoenix, AZ
Friday, December 4, 2009
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
226C, Phoenix Convention Center

1. 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

Presenter(s): Robert Culbertson (Arizona State University: Tempe, AZ)

Session: Music in Motion: Teaching Science and Math Through Musical Instrument Design and Construction
An integrated course of study including math, science, and English was developed for college freshmen built around a theme of studying and building musical instruments. We will discuss how this might be adapted to K-12 classrooms.

2. 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Presenter(s): Madhuri Bapat (Eastern Arizona College: Thatcher, AZ)

Sessions: Symmetry and Patterns in Rangolee Art from India
The education value of this traditional Indian art from is demonstrated through activities and math models.

3. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Presenter(s): Karie A. Meyers (Pima Community College: Tucson, AZ); Demian Quiroz (Canyon del Oro High School: Tucson, AZ)

Session: Make and Take Fun and Deep Physics Activities That Illuminate Newton's Laws
A set of engaging, portable physics demonstrations will be created by attendees. Including are the Inertia Hat, Upside Down Cup of Water, Gravity demos, and more. A standard relatively easy-to-make hovercraft will be demonstrated, with associated plans and activities available.

4. 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Presenter(s): Rob Reniewicki (Arcadia High School; Phoenix, AZ)

Session: Data Collection and Analysis Using Technology in the Physics Classroom
See how students' lab skills and abilities are affected by the use of new technology in collecting and analyzing data during physics labs.

5. 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Presenter(s): Bruce Bayly (University of Arizona: Tucson, AZ); Kip Perkins (The Physics Factory: Tucson, AZ); Eric Hermann (The Wildcat School, Tucson, AZ)

Session: Informal Science: The Tucson Physics Factory
The Physics Factory is a vegetable oil-powered bus filled with engaging physics demonstrations.

For more information visit NSTA.org