Chicago
Section AAPT Spring Meeting
April 14, 2007
at
Morning
Speakers: Room 1601A
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8:15-8:45 am |
Registration and Continental Breakfast; Faculty Lounge |
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8:45 – 8:50 am |
Welcome |
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8:50 – 9:05 |
A New Approach to
Physics Assessment Tests Paul J. Dolan, Jr.
- Northeastern We all do assessment (hopefully), and one of the most straightforward methods is the pre- and post- test, often done using multiple-choice questions. Some of us also do ‘satisfaction’ or ‘I think I know this’ type surveys, which offer insight into other aspects of (apparent) student learning. Questions often arise on any assessment instrument, ones such as: “Are the students taking this seriously?”, “What did this actually measure?”, or “Are the students simply guessing the answers?” I will offer a new wrinkle on the pre-/post- test type of assessment, one that may address some of these questions. I will also offer a new quantitative measurement to glean information from such tests. |
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9:05-9:35 |
Quasar Research Michelle Nichols Adler Planetarium In late 2005, the National Science Foundation funded several two-year cyberinfrastructure demonstration projects. The team led by the Adler Planetarium has designed a teacher professional development and student research program to allow participants to actively participate in quasar research using online tools such as large Internet-accessible astronomy databases, remote-request telescopes, and web visualization. During this session, project manager Michelle Nichols will give a design overview of the project and classroom activities, preliminary results of implementation of the project with students, and information about the 2nd year of the project. |
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9:35-9:50 |
Discovery of an Asteroid in the SDSS Database Elizabeth Ramseyer –
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9:50-10:05 |
Teaching Physics
Using the Tablet PC Paul Waechtler –
New A tablet personal computer allows one to write on the computer screen and project the writing. I have used a tablet pc for physics instruction in a variety of ways, and will demonstrate several of them. I annotate my Powerpoint notes, DataStudioÔ graphs and other documents. I create pdf files of the notes and post the electronic files on Blackboard so the students can examine them as needed. |
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10:05-10:20 |
Illustrating the
Transition from Average to Instantaneous Velocity: Alternate Approaches John Milton – Five ways are described that can demonstrate instantaneous velocity as a limit. Which of these is most effective pedagogically? |
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10:20-10:35 |
Break |
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10:35-11:05 |
Observations of Star Forming Regions with the World's
Largest Radio Telescopes For over sixty years, radio (interferometric) telescopes have provided unique insight into the processes in star forming regions. I will present data on high angular resolution observations of star forming regions; in particular, the measurement of magnetic fields in such regions. |
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11:05-11:20 |
Discovering New
Particles Using Standard Techniques of Mass Reconstruction Richard DeCoster – A significant milestone in
natural philosophy will occur with the commissioning of the Large Hadronic
Collider [LHC] in autumn, 2007. Higgs and super-symmetric particles may
be found. These discoveries will be based in part on using the techniques
of mass reconstruction. We present a review of such techniques using a
set of data for Z0 decay from physicist Don Lincoln of Fermilab that is
appropriate for classroom presentation. The techniques demonstrate the
power of using conservation laws. These data are available through a
QuarkNet publication. |
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11:20-11:35 |
Inquiry-Based Instruction: Considerations
from the student viewpoint Bob Froehlich – Glenbrook North’s Physics Department is committed to inquiry-based instruction (IBI) within the framework of Modeling. Rather than give a list of equations and use labs to demonstrate their applicability, the inquiry approach presents the student with situations and encourages the student’s discovery of the relationships contained within those situation. Considerable quantitative research has shown that there is substantially more retention and an increased ability to abstract understanding to new situations with IBI. However, when confronted with this type of instruction, the students may have difficulty adapting to a teaching style and learning regime that is unlike those in conventional didactic instruction. This interpretive research (non-quantitative) project examines, via on-line guided interviews consisting of free-response questions, a) student reactions to being first confronted with IBI and b) their current feelings toward IBI now having experienced it. |
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11:35-11:50 |
Report on the
Masterclass in Particle Physics at Fermilab Charlotte
Wood-Harrington – G. Brooks Bob Hurley – Proviso
West In anticipation of the flood of
data that is expected with the start of the particle accelerator at the
European Center, CERN sponsored four classes in Particle Physics for teachers
across Europe that were simultaneous with the class at Fermilab. Event
Displays that were recorded at CERN by DELPHI & OPAL prior to 2000 are
now available online for students to analyze. http://www.physicsmasterclasses.org/mc/orga_exercises.htm |
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11:50-12:05 |
Earth Science
Applications of Magnetic Field Patterns Richard Calhoun – I will demonstrate two tested and easy to make activities which illustrate applications of magnetic fields to earth science: searching for iron ore deposits and sea floor spreading. These can be used as extensions of the basic magnetic field mapping experiment. |
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12:05 – 12:15 |
Take-fives |
12:15 - 1:15
p.m.: Lunch and Business Meeting – Faculty Lounge - Catered by "Ann and
Debbie Catering" ($5.00)
Afternoon
Workshops
Using Java Applets to
Create On-Line Labs - Martha Lietz -
1:15 p.m. -3:15 p.m.
We will look a several sources of excellent Java applets related to various physics topics. Participants will be presented with several examples of on-line labs for topics ranging from projectile motion to induction to ray optics. Participants will also be given time to search for applets themselves and to create curricular materials for use in their own classrooms.
Make ‘n Take a
Physics Music Video – Joe Serpico –
1:15 p.m. -3:15 p.m.
The presenter will provide music to about 80 songs that are related to physics topics. Participants will select a song and produce a music video that introduces a physics topic for use in class. The music video will be designed using Power Point and the presenter will help participants chose related backgrounds, add essential text and clip art and finally animated the presentation and time it to the music.