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Monday afternoon
to make the demonstration as interactive as possible. Video analysis has
also been widely used to help supplement physics instruction, though
has historically required cumbersome apparatus and additional software
potentially making it a less accessible option. With the advent of smart
phones and the technology that comes along with them, the tools required
to perform simple video analysis are now at our fingertips. I have adapted
several traditional lecture demonstrations to incorporate video analysis,
and help engage the student in a truly interactive process.
BI07:
3:10-3:20 p.m. Modifying Just-In-Time-Teaching to
Encourage Student Reflection
Contributed – Andrew Morrison, Joliet Junior College, Joliet, IL 60431-8938;
Just-in-time-teaching (JiTT) is a teaching and learning strategy where a
feedback loop is created between instructor and students in order to focus
classroom activities toward concepts the class is having the most difficulty
in understanding. Two important components of a JiTT strategy are short
exercises done outside of class and the response to the exercises in class. In
previous physics courses, my students have been assigned readings to com-
plete as well as questions to answer online based on assigned readings. The
instructor is responsible for reading student responses before the start of
class and has the opportunity to adjust class activities to address concerns
raised by students in their answers. This year, I modified the JiTT method
to encourage student reflection on the activities completed in class and
emphasize critical reading skills. The benefits and challenges of the JiTT
method and present modifications are discussed.
BI08:
3:20-3:30 p.m. TYC Leadership Institute: An
Introduction to Leadership Development
Contributed – Brooke Haag, American River College, Sacramento, CA 95841;
Informed by the principles of the Project Kaleidoscope (PKAL) Summer
Leadership Institute, this workshop was conceived to involve two-year
college (TYC) physics faculty in experiential learning exercises to foster
leadership skills. The workshop addressed a range of skills from effec-
tive communication to work-life balance via interactive activities and
moderated discussions. In this talk, the framework of the institute will be
detailed. Outcomes and future plans will also be discussed.
Session BJ: Physics of Phun
Location: STSS 114
Sponsor: Committee on Physics in High Schools
Date: Monday, July 28
Time: 1:30–2:20 p.m.
Presider: Diane Riendeau
BJ01:
1:30-1:40 p.m. A Case Study Using Extracurricular
Activities for Interactive Physics Engagement
Contributed – Devin Rourke,* University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO
80303;
Extracurricular activities are valuable elements in a high school student’s
daily routine--they effectively teach the social, moral, and behavioral
hidden curricula often missed in a traditional classroom. Still, these com-
mitments crowd a high school student’s schedule and add unmanageable
stress, which threatens both their traditional academic performance and
their overall health and well-being. Therefore, it is worth examining ways
in which to academically engage students in the low-pressure, fun environ-
ment that extracurriculars provide. This report, and the workshop titled
“The Physics of Sports” described herein, demonstrate that the pedagogy
of informal science education through extracurriculars has many benefits
aside from simply stress reduction. These benefits include active and inter-
active engagement, social learning, promoting personal identity, situated
cognition, the role of play, and anthropomorphic epistemology, to name
a few. We explore the existing opportunities, necessary conditions, and
practical challenges in using extracurricular activities as an effective tool
for cognitive development.
*Sponsored by Dr. Kathleen Hinko and Dr. Noah Finkelstein (University of Colorado
Boulder Physics Education Research). Special thanks to Dr. Emily Haynes (Centaurus
H.S., Boulder Valley School District).
BJ02:
1:40-1:50 p.m. Back in the Day
Contributed – Diane M. Riendeau, Deerfield High School, Lake Zurich, IL
60047;
As electronic toys and games become more the norm, students have fewer
experiences with the hands-on toys from “back in the day.” What we
remember from our childhood is a new experience for many of today’s
students. I will present several of these “old fashioned” toys that I have
collected through the years and explain how I use them to teach a variety
of physics concepts.
BJ03:
1:50-2 p.m. Getting Students Excited About Science
with High Altitude Ballooning
Contributed – Charles Niederriter, Gustavus Adolphus College, St Peter, MN
56082;
Steven Mellema, Gustavus Adolphus College
James Flaten, University of Minnesota
Many of us dream of exploring space, but there are not many ways to do
so. Although it is difficult to get into deep space, near space is within our
grasp. High-altitude balloons are released into the stratosphere, generally
reaching between 60,000 to 120,000 feet before they burst and their pay-
load is returned to Earth by parachute. Modern balloon systems generally
contain electronic equipment such as radio transmitters, cameras, and GPS
receivers, as well as a variety of scientific instruments. Not only is high-alti-
tude ballooning a great way to introduce the electronics and programming
skills needed to collect and analyze data from the spacecraft, it provides
a fun way to explore scientific concepts from pressure, temperature and
volume to cosmic radiation. We have begun offering summer camps to
high school students in order to capitalize on the excitement of ballooning
to get them interested in physics.
BJ05:
2:10-2:20 p.m. Use of NYTimes Sports Section To Help
Teach Physics
Contributed – John P. Cise, Austin Community College, Austin, TX 78701;
The New York Times Sports section is usually rich with physics concepts
(Kinematics, projectiles,Newton’s second, Work,Energy, etc). Over the past
six years I have developed a NYTimes Physics Applications site using news
articles rich in Physics applications.
/
files/NYT.htm. Articles and graphics are copied into Word, edited to fit on
one page with: Introduction, Questions, Hints and Answers. The author
uses these one page web applications for: Introduction to concepts, quizzes,
and student extra credit. My presentation will feature some NYTimes Sport
section articles rich in physics applications.
com/files/NYT.htm
Session BK: Making Physics Phun
Location: STSS 114
Sponsor: Committee on Physics in Two-Year Colleges
Date: Monday, July 28
Time: 2:30–3:20 p.m.
Presider: Paul Williams
BK01:
2:30-2:40 p.m. Juggling Physics and Phun
Contributed – John P. Lewis, Glenbrook South High School, Glenview, IL
60026;
Part of the “Phun” of juggling is the beautiful way it can be described with
simple physics explanations. I’ll be demonstrating and explaining the
