Summer 2013 Mechanics - PhysicsTeachersNYC

Google Group

Units & Topics

Unit 1	ScientificThinking
Unit 2	Constant Velocity Model
Unit 3	Uniform Acceleration Model Kelly O'Shea's Blog: Whiteboard Speed Dating Explaining "At Rest" Condition of an Object article Super Ultimate Graphing Challenge on The Universe and More Izzit.org site "The Rocketeer" (1991) is both the title of a movie and a problem which is overly complicated to solve with formulas but quite straightforward with graphical methods. See the file below.
Unit 4	Free Particle Model You can use Eugenia Etkina's ISLE materials at: this site The Diagnoser Project is at the following site: Diagnoser The article on the Force Concept Inventory (FCI) is below. Frank Noschese recorded a YouTube video showing how Newton's Third Law is visible in a number of different scenarios. Dan Berkley wished to share his Circus Balancing lab activity. It is attached with the other documents below.
Unit 5	Net Force Model The compilation on materials and suggestions for new Modelers to speak with parents and administrators is in a document attached below. The compilation of suggestions and ideas about pacing for Modeling Instruction is in the files below, called "Pacing." J.T. Mentioned a Direct Measurement Video Library which students could use to analyze the experiments we've used in video form. Readings on Whiteboarding and Post-Game Analysis are below. An optional reading on "System Schemas" from The Physics Teacher is below. The list of generic "questions to ask" is an adaptation of something Geoff Schmidt posted here. Emily mentioned some materials for the middle school level from a resource called STC-MS. The materials on friction are attached below in a document called "Lesson 6." A case study on new Modelers experiencing pushback is below. It is in a file called "A Modeler Experiences Pushback."
Unit 6	Particle Model in 2-D Instructions for performing video analysis using the free software tool, "Tracker" are below in the file, Tracker Video Analysis. The reading concluding this unit is Rob Beichner's study on using the Test of Understanding of Graphs (Kinematics) with students and the instrument itself. Abbreviated below as TUG-K and TUG-K Study.
Unit 7	Central Net Force Model For the conversation on Energy, please read the 2-page excerpt from Richard Feynman's "Six Easy Pieces" in the file called: Conservation of Energy Feynman. Also, Greg Swackhamer's paper on Cognitive Resources for Understanding Energy is a powerful, if long read at 42 pages. If time is a factor, focus on Sections 2 & 3. The file is below, called Cognitive Resources - Energy.
Unit 8	Energy Model The reading on Modeling Instruction by David Hestenes, Jane Jackson and Larry Dukerich is below in a file called "Modeling". It was published in the National Science Education Leadership Association's bi-annual journal, Science Educator in 2008. Craig wanted to share his introductory Energy Bar Chart worksheet, which uses money as a bridging analogy for students.
Unit 9	Momentum Transfer Model One inventive Modeler, Kelly O'Shea developed an interesting approach to this model which you can read about on this site. She uses bar charts in which the height and width have physical meaning, which she discusses here.

Tony wanted to share that he had some resources and animations on his website: http://www.stmary.ws/highschool/physics/home/animations3/

The PowerPoint presentation Larry Dukerich delivered is attached below in a file called "Modeling Presentation".

SBG Resources from Kelly O'Shea

In no particular order…

http://shawncornally.com/wordpress/?p=673 SBG FAQ
http://alwaysformative.blogspot.com/2010/03/translating-to-letter-grade.html Conjunctive Grading and Final Grades in SBG
http://samjshah.com/2011/06/15/to-reassess-or-how-to-make-more-work-for-me/ On reassessment policies and implementation details
http://101studiostreet.com/wordpress/?p=1377 SBG Variations on a theme—three different visions of implementing SBG in different subjects
http://activegrade.com/blog/2012/07/avoiding-sbg-push-back/ Avoiding SBG pushback—how to preemptively respond to common fears/misconceptions about SBG

A few extras that didn't make it into my top 5 above

http://alwaysformative.blogspot.com/2010/04/almost-formative.html When you think you're giving formative assessments but aren't, really—how do you help students move forward with the feedback you've given them?
http://fromamathclass.blogspot.com/2012/07/idea-for-reassessment.html Box of reassessment cards
http://shawncornally.com/wordpress/?p=1092 More of Shawn going delightfully radical about helping kids respond to failure and point addiction
http://blog.msbethea.com/?cat=19 The great series of Unhelpful Grading Practices posts
http://alwaysformative.blogspot.com/2010/07/picard-not-data.html Who is in charge of this ship?

There's a lot more out there—these were the first things that came to mind in my search for implementation details, etc.

The details of my own particular implementation, real feedback I've gotten from students, some SBG theory, and my physics objectives are here: http://kellyoshea.wordpress.com/standards-based-grading/