July 13–17, 2013
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part of the workshop, laboratories will be executed in groups (starting with
cookbook to inquiry through a hybrid design-based approach). During the
theoretical part of the workshop, Homer Energy microgrid activities will
be executed. All participants will leave with a USB of resources. Together
the workshop will weave a coherent common thread for our Physics of
Energy from mechanical to electrical energy, thermal to electrical, solar to
electrical, and chemical to electrical energy.
W14: Arduino Applications in the Lab and Classroom
Sponsor: Committee on Apparatus
Co-sponsor: Committee on Laboratories
Time: 1–5 p.m. Saturday
Member Price: $80
Non-Member Price: $105
Location: SB1 201
Eric Ayars, California State University, Chico, Department of Physics, Cam-
pus Box 202, Chico, CA 95929-0202;
This workshop will allow attendees to see a wide variety of applications for
Arduino microcontrollers in physics labs and classrooms, ranging from
introductory setup and programming to advanced topics such as commu-
nications protocols with other sensors and SD-card storage. Attendees are
encouraged to bring their own laptops and an Arduino Uno (or equivalent)
if desired. No prior Arduino experience required.
W15: Introductory Labs
Sponsor: Committee on Laboratories
Time: 1–5 p.m. Saturday
Member Price: $70
Non-Member Price: $95
Location: SB1 424
Mary Ann Klassen, Swarthmore College, Department of Physics & Astrono-
my, 500 College Ave., Swarthmore, PA 19081;
Whether your lab curriculum is ripe for an overhaul or well-established,
this workshop will provide new ideas to bring home to your institution.
Six presenters from colleges and universities across the United States will
demonstrate their approach to a favorite introductory lab exercise. Attend-
ees will have the opportunity to work with each apparatus. Documenta-
tion will be provided for each experiment, with lab manuals, sample data,
equipment lists, and construction or purchase information. This workshop
is appropriate primarily for college and university instructional laboratory
developers.
video analysis using software such as Logger Pro or Tracker will be helpful
but is not required.
W11: Using Invention to Promote Mathematical Thinking
Sponsor: Committee on Research in Physics Education
Time: 8 a.m.–12 p.m. Saturday
Member Price: $60
Non-Member Price: $85
Location: SRTC 101
Andrew Boudreaux, 516 High St., Bellingham, WA 98225-9164; andrew.
Suzanne Brahmia, Stephen E. Kanim
When we introduce new quantities in physics, we usually explain math-
ematically how they are related to other quantities. Too often students
misinterpret the reasoning and simply memorize, approaching physics as
a match-the-equation activity. Invention instruction, pioneered by Dan
Schwartz, presents open-ended situations in which students must create
mathematical procedures to characterize physical situations. Invention
tasks prime students to make sense of subsequent formal instruction. This
workshop will engage participants in invention tasks and discuss classroom
applications.
W12: Physics of Energy
Sponsor: Committee on Science Education for the Public
Co-sponsor: Committee on Professional Concerns
Time: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday
Member Price: $130
Non-Member Price: $155
Location: SRTC 149
Abigail Mechtenberg, University of Michigan, Department of Physics, Ann
Arbor, MI 48109;
Regina Barrera
AAPT educators embrace this Physics of Energy workshop for experi-
mental (laboratories) and theoretical (simulations) curricula. Whether
motivated by energy security or environmental stability, physicists at all
levels must play a role in the scientific literacy shaping the past as we have
known it and the future of the world as we should know it. The academic
level is set for undergraduate engineers and physicists; however, the astute
teacher can easily apply this to other students. During the experimental
