At this point we have a variety of opinions on methodology but it may prove to be a better exercise by simply picking out a single topic that would be able to be covered in a typical high school grade 12 physics class, and consider how you would put that class together, assuming you have a...
I am producing a series of 'debates' between myself and my physics 12 students. I feel strongly that their ability to logically conceptualize their ideas and debate them is an important par of the class. Therefore i will argue against groups of four who must argue against a flat earth, moon hoax...
we have laser pointers and can likely order any other items we need. Of course, mind you, I would like to avoid the "find the n value for this substance" type of experiment which still is simply a paint by numbers type of lab. although maybe there is something there with "proving the law is...
i would never expect a high school student to come up with Snell's Law, no.
I can't think of how it would suddenly occur to them to see a trig relationship. So I am hoping to change the nature of the question in a way where there is still something to discover without it being a straightforward...
Hello
I'm trying to come up with a solid Lab to use for my chapter on Waves and Optics. I am considering having it center on refraction. Here is the problem:
All labs I create for my class must avoid being a set of instructions for the student to perform. The must always be set up as a...
I was checking on this thread and sad to see no replies. Is it safe to assume that no other teacher has tried a rube goldberg type lab experiment/activity?
certainly:
This was a class against another class competition
kids were in groups of 4. Groups had to work together to accomplish the goal of the entire 'machine'
they were to build a section each of the entire RGM. in other words they were building their own individual group machine that had...
Have any other teachers tried this? I put one together this last term with a reasonable amount of success. I was wondering who out there has also tried to do this and if so, what kind of parameters did you set?
I must respectfully disagree. I do feel that by presenting the procedure as an unknown changes the game plan for most students. The feedback from this initial foray was overwhelmingly positive. They actual felt like scientists, and - although this is only anecdotal - all of the students clearly...
I had mentioned in another thread that I had just started teaching Physics.
I had spoken about the qualities of a Physics teacher and the challenges he/she may face but something I left out was "The Lab". This was something that was a thorn in my side right from the start going back to when I...
I am now finishing my first year teaching high school physics and pre calculus / calculus. Here is my current take on this job [i should mention that I am in my 40s and this is not my first profession].
I do not agree with earlier sentiments of the entitlement attitude of the kids these days. I...