Workshop Details
Spring
2001 Meeting of the Illinois
Section of the AAPT
At their conclusion, participants may apply to receive Continuing Professional Development Units for these workshops.
| Friday, 4/20 10:00-12:00 |
Workshop W1. “LabVIEW for Physics Teaching”, Ravi Marawar, National Instruments, INC. Computer-based Measurement and Automation is revolutionizing the way scientists and engineers acquire and analyze data, control instruments and display results. LabVIEW a revolutionary graphical programming system for data acquisition and control offers an innovative programming methodology in which you graphically assemble software objects called virtual instruments. The workshop will introduce you to LabVIEW and demonstrate how a generic measurement and automation application can be put together. A large number of undergraduate Physics laboratories are using LabVIEW; we will point you to appropriate physics resources to help you build your own laboratory. All the attendees of the workshop will also receive a LabVIEW Interactive Training CD valued at $395. Free. (limit 18) Science 109 |
| Friday, 4/20 10:00-12:00 |
Workshop W2. “When Lightning Strikes: Problem-Based Learning", Diana L. Roth, Lanphier High School, Springfield, IL. In this session we will reflect on traditional problem solving methods and experience an innovative method called "Problem-Based Learning". PBL incorporates cooperative groups, integrated units, student projects, and technology into an already busy curriculum. Motivate your students with real world problems which require them to apply and adapt the physics they know as they learn new concepts. Free. (limit 20) Science 115 |
| Friday, 4/20 10:00-11:00 |
Workshop W3. “Just-in-Time Teaching and Peer Instruction”, Carl J. Wenning, Illinois State University, Normal, IL. Participants will learn about two methods that can be used to enhance conceptual understanding by students, and to deal with the "depth versus breadth" problem that confounds so many physics teachers. Just-in-Time Teaching allows teachers to take advantage of the WWW to assess student understanding prior to class time, thereby allowing for instruction that can be arranged to meet the needs of the students. Peer Instruction takes advantage of small group processes that use students as teachers. Both strategies can be quickly and easily adopted by physics teachers to increase student learning in physics courses. Free. (limit 14) Science 104 OR (limit 22) Science 104 & 102 |
| Friday, 4/20 11:00-12:00 |
Workshop W4. “Cooperative Group Problem Solving”, Tom Foster, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, IL. This workshop will give a brief overview of Cooperative Group Problem-Solving in Physics. This technique was developed at the University of Minnesota and has been very successful in promoting both problem-solving performance and conceptual understanding. Participants in the workshop will learn about how and why to form groups, how to make them cooperative (not competitive), and how to develop appropriate tasks for the groups. Participants will also have the opportunity to determine the difficulty of exam problems. Free. (limit 18) Science 127 |
| Saturday, 4/21 1:00-4:00 |
Workshop W5. “Using Toys to Teach Physics, A PTRA Workshop”, Jodi and Roy McCullough, Lisbon High School, Lisbon, OH, and Amherst High School, Amherst, OH. Using toys to teach physics addresses many problems we encounter: students often fail to see the connections between the science they study and real life; segments of the population are intimidated by technical equipment; budgets limit the equipment available in the classroom. This workshop provides examples of how toys can be used in laboratory activities, demonstrations, and for applications of standard physics concepts. These activities add reality, enthusiasm, and fun to the physics classroom. 'Participants will engage in activities from portions of the AAPT publication, "The Role of Toys in Teaching Physics", and receive a sampling of selected toys they can use with their students." Fee: $10.00 (limit 18) Science 127 |
| Saturday, 4/21 1:00-4:00 |
Workshop W6. “A Taste of the Modeling Method of Teaching Physics”, Rex Rice, Clayton High School, Clayton, Missouri and Debbie Rice, Gateway Institute of Technology, St. Louis. Physics education research indicates that actively engaging students in the learning process is critical to the effectiveness of physics education. The Modeling Method of Teaching Physics is a program that is based on such research and is consistent with the recommendations of the National Science Standards. This workshop is designed to give you a taste of how this method works by engaging you in the modeling process. Free. (limit 20) Science 115 |
| Saturday, 4/21 1:00-4:00 |
Workshop
W7.
“The
Universe on a Desktop: Observational Astronomy Simulations in the
Instructional Laboratory",
P. Richard Cooper, Laurence A. Marschall, Glenn A.
Snyder,
Project CLEA, Department of Physics, Gettysburg College,
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Though the value of hands-on learning has long been recognized by educators, it is difficult to design laboratories in astronomy classes that present realistic astrophysical techniques to undergraduate students. Unlike most other sciences, astronomy is largely observational, not experimental, and making useful observations involves expensive equipment over time scales inconvenient for pedagogy. In recent years, however, astronomy has gone almost completely digital, and the advent of large on-line data bases and fast personal computers has made it possible to realistically simulate the experience of research astrophysics in the laboratory. Since 1992, Project CLEA (Contemporary Laboratory Experiences in Astronomy) has been developing such computer-based exercises aimed primarily at the introductory astronomy laboratory. These exercises simulate important techniques of astronomical research using digital data and Windows-based software. Each of the 9 exercises developed to date consists of software, technical guides for teachers, and student manuals for the exercises. CLEA software is used at many institutions in all the United States and over 60 countries world-wide, in a variety of settings from middle school to upper-class astronomy classes. We will describe and demonstrate some of the CLEA materials and talk about our design philosophy. Plans for future development will be presented. Attendees will receive a CD with all current software and several student manuals that will be used in the workshop. All other documentation is included on the CD. These programs may be used for educational purposes at no charge. They run under Windows 95/98/NT. They have been used in some colleges under emulation software on Macs. Project CLEA is supported by grants from Gettysburg College and the National Science Foundation. Free. (limit 18) Science 109 |