Re: I don't want physics to be a mile wide and an inch deep but....

[Digby Willard <dwillard@MAIL.CENTRAL.STPAUL.K12.MN.US>]

I just started doing AP (B) seriously last year, but have done IB SL for
several years.  I recommend changing gears after the test, especially if
most of your students are seniors.

I've done a book report assignment after the tests and liked the results.
I recommend certain books, but don't require a particular book.  All books
must be approved by me in advance.  The preference is for something dealing
with the history of physics.

Many students have expressed genuine surprise at their enjoyment of the
book.  I'd actually do about 4 book reports a year if the #@%%$!^&#& test
prep didn't take so much time.

I also require them to read and summarize a magazine article dealing with
physics.  Scientific American is the best source.  Again, they can choose
any article, but I have to approve it.

Digby Willard



Responding to the message of Sun, 12 Dec 1999 07:52:59 -0800
from Lerner Desks <lerndesk@SPRYNET.COM>:
> Crossposted to PHYSHARE and PHYS-L
> ________________________________
>
>
> Dear Colleagues,
>
> As this is my first time teaching an AP(B) course I find myself faced
> with
> some choices to make regarding the content of the last two weeks of
> class.
> I blocked these weeks out on my syllabus for relativity theory and
> quantum
> theory.  The truth is that I have integrated most of the fundamental
> concepts into prior units and these stand-alone units present me with
> more
> of an opportunity than a dilemma:
>
>     I obviously can't go very deep into the mathematics of QED theory --
> but
> I would like to give my students some perspective and understanding of
> the
> history and intellectual impact of this and other advanced topics.
> How much time do you devote to history?  With things like QED I'm always
> feel like I'm cheating if I just shrug my shoulders in the midst of a
> busy
> "AP syllabus lecture" and say,  "we'll talk about it later", or worse a
> weak, glossing, "it's important to understanding quantum mechanics and it
> has important implications for cosmology".   Blahhhh!!!!
>
>     Is there a good high-school or undergraduate level reference that
> could
> serve as a compendium for understandable applications of advanced or
> theoretical physics?  In a light-hearted way let me define  "advanced"
> physics as that part of the subject of which most of the general public
> hasn't a clue, and "theoretical" physics as that part of "advanced"
> physics
> which puts most physicists and physics teachers in the same boat with the
> general public!
>
>    Of great concern to me is that my physics class is all my students
> get.
> Although I am fighting hard for a conceptual and an astronomy class,  it
> may
> take a few years.  In addition, none -- I repeat, NONE -- of my physics
> students had even taken any prior physical science at the high school
> level
> (Alas, to my deep dismay, in our system physical science is deemed a
> class
> for the tech-ed or non-college prep students).  Because our tech-ed is
> taught off campus arranging more than a few visits to reinforce mechanics
> or
> electronics concepts is not possible.
>
> Best Regards,
> Lee
>
>
> ________________________
> K. Lee Lerner
> lerndesk@sprynet.com