Bulletin of the American Physical Society
Joint Fall 2012 Meeting of the Texas Sections of the APS, AAPT, and Zone 13 of the SPS
Volume 57, Number 10
Thursday–Saturday, October 25–27, 2012; Lubbock, Texas
Session E6: Outreach, Education, and AAPT |
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Chair: Jennifer Steele, Trinity University Room: Holiday Inn Towers Heritage |
Friday, October 26, 2012 3:30PM - 3:42PM |
E6.00001: Peer Pressure Road Trip 2012 - A Report Olivia Popnoe Each year since 2005 the Angelo State University SPS ``Peer Pressure Team'' has travelled for a week in May to promote physics and other sciences for grades K-12. This year, the Peer Pressure Team visited schools in West Texas and New Mexico. This was the first year the team has traveled outside of Texas, inspired by the SPS 2012 theme ``Physics Beyond Borders.'' The purpose of the Road Tours is to encourage an interest in science in children in grades K-12 and give experience in presenting and explaining physics to the undergraduate volunteers. The schools attended are carefully selected based on socioeconomic need and an underrepresentation in physics, as well as other sciences. During this week, the Peer Pressure Team saw about 1,500 students over 10 shows. Surveys were given to teachers post-demonstration to have students complete and return so the Team could gauge the effectiveness of the outreach program. In addition, the surveys allow the Team to determine which demonstrations had the most impact. We present the details of this year's road trip with the results and analysis of the survey data. [Preview Abstract] |
Friday, October 26, 2012 3:42PM - 3:54PM |
E6.00002: Physics of climate change, taught as a topics a course for undergraduate physics majors Michael Sadler While anthropogenic (human-caused) climate change is generally accepted in the scientific community, there is considerable skepticism among the general population. Science students are often asked by their peers, family members, and others, whether they ``believe'' climate change is occurring and what should be done about it (if anything). While the pertinent material is covered in undergraduate physics courses, it helps to review the basics in order to develop an educated perspective on this topic that is very volatile (socially and politically). The basic topics are introductory quantum mechanics (discrete energy levels of atomic systems), molecular spectroscopy, blackbody radiation, and appreciation for the scientific method (particularly peer-reviewed research). These topics are usually covered in undergraduate modern physics and thermodynamics courses, but a separate course on climate change (taught in Spring 2012) helped ``put things together'' for both the students and their professor. [Preview Abstract] |
Friday, October 26, 2012 3:54PM - 4:06PM |
E6.00003: Some Activities in the Regional Collaborative for Excellence in Science Teaching Jim Roberts, Betty Crocker Select activities that are ``teacher and student engaging,'' will be presented along with a discussion of the goals and objectives of the program. Science and mathematics teachers are recruited from high minority low socio-economic schools to learn science content in an engaging environment of hands-on activities to develop an understanding of basic chemistry, biological cycles, effective teaching strategies, state standards, and how scientific and technological devices work. Participants are taught how to design 5E lesson plans, design pre and post-tests of lessons, and incorporate research based effective teaching models into their class rooms. Prior Collaborative teachers are recruited to act as participants, recruiters, and as mentor teachers for teachers who are joining each cycle of the program. [Preview Abstract] |
Friday, October 26, 2012 4:06PM - 4:18PM |
E6.00004: Waters Rockets for Teaching Momentum and Energy Concepts Jim Sizemore, R.J. Parish, James T. Hooten Concepts regarding momentum and energy are especially difficult for students to grasp and concrete examples are valuable. We will discuss, and show video, of launching water rockets using standard plastic soda and water bottles and describe the launcher composed of PVC pipe and a bicycle pump. We pose the question to students of the ratio of water to air that achieves the greatest time-of-flight. Immediate feedback is obtained by immediately testing student's hypotheses. After several launches the students understanding of Newton's Third Law and momentum and energy concepts improves. This is an engaging activity, students enjoy watching their instructors become thoroughly drenched, and students are enthusiastic. This enthusiasm, fun, and immediate testing of hypotheses reinforce momentum and energy concepts as will be shown by questionnaire results. [Preview Abstract] |
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