Student Showcase:
THIS WEEK IN CLASS
Exploring Static Friction
My physics students played with static friction, competing to see who could get the force sensor to read the highest without moving the 1.1 kg block. Then they created friction graphs by slowly increasing their pulling force until the block started to move and then continuing to pull the block at a constant velocity. We were excited to see some very nice "shark fins" show up!
|
|
Exploring Friction
I asked my physics students to brainstorm a list of physical properties that might affect the amount of friction acting on a sliding object. Then they were to choose one property, develop a way to test its affect on the amount of gravity, carry out their experiment and present their findings to the class.
|
SPECIAL SHOUT-OUTS
Personal Inquiry: The Atomic Bomb
In my Advanced Topics in Physics course, I gave my students the opportunity to explore a topic related to modern physics that they were curious about. They agreed that they needed to demonstrate what they learned by creating a presentation piece (analog or digital) and speak about what they had learned in front of the class. Lauren chose to explore fission and how atomic bombs work. She learned quite a bit about the history of the atom bomb, what nuclear fission is, how Einstein's well known equation is related, and how uranium is refined for use in weapons.
(Other students chose to explore String Theory and the Twin Paradox.) |
Daniel's Photo Project
Daniel is a young man from the middle school who is taking my physics class this year. While the high school students were gone on their week-long experiential learning trips, I asked him to make 5 photos that illustrate different physics concepts, leaving it up to him to decide which ones to do. The only rules were that he had to take the pictures he used and he had to write a description of how the photo illustrated the chosen concept.
He chose to focus on aspects of projectile motion. |
|
Plan for showcasing student work:
1. Continually document students working and student work through pictures & videos.
It is just as important to see the process as the final product - both lose meaning without the other. My plan is to develop a habit of keeping my camera close at hand to take photos and videos of everyday activities in my classroom. It's easy to focus on the big projects and labs, but learning happens at other times, too. I want my students to see the every day work as meaningful and worth showcasing, too.
Action Item: Take pictures or video of class at least twice a week. (ongoing)
Action Item: Update this page with 2 photos or videos from the week every Friday. (ongoing)
It is just as important to see the process as the final product - both lose meaning without the other. My plan is to develop a habit of keeping my camera close at hand to take photos and videos of everyday activities in my classroom. It's easy to focus on the big projects and labs, but learning happens at other times, too. I want my students to see the every day work as meaningful and worth showcasing, too.
Action Item: Take pictures or video of class at least twice a week. (ongoing)
Action Item: Update this page with 2 photos or videos from the week every Friday. (ongoing)
2. Provide students a place to brag about their work and learning.
Students know what work they are proud of and why they are proud of it. But how often do they tell anyone about it? Society frowns on bragging, but acknowledging your gifts and celebrating your efforts is important. I want my students to have a place where they can spout off about the cool thing they created for class or what it felt like to have the light bulb go off in their head. And I want them to have feedback from the community around them. To that end, I created a blog page for my students where they can post about their awesome efforts, work and learning. My plan for the rest of this school year is to ask the students in my honors physics class on a weekly basis if they have anything to brag about from class. I'll share the link to the blog in the Upper School newsletter (password protected so it's for Upper School families only) and ask for comments affirming or asking questions about the posts. With administration permission, I'll also share the link with my professional learning network, so that other teachers (and maybe physics students!) can also comment on the posts.
Action Item: Find a free blog tool that allows multiple authors to create a new "Glowing, because of..." blog.
Action Item: Add students as authors to the new "Glowing, because of..." blog
Action Item: Write newsletter article with link
Action Item: Write an introductory post. (done) (EDIT: Transfer post to new blog)
Action Item: Ask students for ideas about future implementation: What will it take to make this a meaningful activity for future students? (I.E. Not just another assignment they make stuff up for.)
Students know what work they are proud of and why they are proud of it. But how often do they tell anyone about it? Society frowns on bragging, but acknowledging your gifts and celebrating your efforts is important. I want my students to have a place where they can spout off about the cool thing they created for class or what it felt like to have the light bulb go off in their head. And I want them to have feedback from the community around them. To that end, I created a blog page for my students where they can post about their awesome efforts, work and learning. My plan for the rest of this school year is to ask the students in my honors physics class on a weekly basis if they have anything to brag about from class. I'll share the link to the blog in the Upper School newsletter (password protected so it's for Upper School families only) and ask for comments affirming or asking questions about the posts. With administration permission, I'll also share the link with my professional learning network, so that other teachers (and maybe physics students!) can also comment on the posts.
Action Item: Find a free blog tool that allows multiple authors to create a new "Glowing, because of..." blog.
Action Item: Add students as authors to the new "Glowing, because of..." blog
Action Item: Write newsletter article with link
Action Item: Write an introductory post. (done) (EDIT: Transfer post to new blog)
Action Item: Ask students for ideas about future implementation: What will it take to make this a meaningful activity for future students? (I.E. Not just another assignment they make stuff up for.)
3.Special announcements of exceptional pieces of work.
I want to show off work that I think goes above and beyond, beautifully articulates a concept, or is just really cool. This page is the perfect place to do it. So I will.
Action Item: Watch for stunning work. (ongoing)
Action Item: Post about stunning work when I find it. (ongoing)
I want to show off work that I think goes above and beyond, beautifully articulates a concept, or is just really cool. This page is the perfect place to do it. So I will.
Action Item: Watch for stunning work. (ongoing)
Action Item: Post about stunning work when I find it. (ongoing)