Section Meeting/Mini Conference: November 5th and 6th

Save the dates!

Our Fall 2010 meeting will be held on November 5th and 6th.

The Saturday events will be at Carondelet High School in Concord, CA (close to I-680 and Pleasant Hill BART). We’re still working out the details for our Friday afternoon event, but we’ll have our usual social event somewhere local in the evening.

Tentative Saturday schedule:

8:00 — Registration, coffee and goodies, socializing

9:00 — Welcome and Announcements

9:15 — Show and Tell (members have five minutes to present their favorite demonstration or teaching tip).

10:15 Break

10:30 — Invited speakers and other presentations.

Noonish — Lunch (included with registration fee)

1:30 — Business meeting and raffle

2:00 — More presentations.

Spring NCNAAPT Section Meeting

Thanks to all that came and made the Spring NCNAAPT Section Meeting a success! Below please find all the notes taken at today’s conference with available links and contact information. If you see a mistake or would like something added/ changed please contact the Secretary, Bree Barnett Dreyfuss.

If you need proof of your attendance to today’s conference, you can download a Certificate of Attendance to print. Any questions can be sent to the Secretary.

Afternoon Workshops

Workshops in Room 307

Cailin Creighton, iFly: Cailin explained the format of educational programs available at iFly Indoor Skydiving in Union City, CA. There are several topics available for lectures, classroom examples as well as experiments at the facility. The educational program includes a tour of the wind tunnel, a lecture tailored for your class and one minute flights for students. Information about the program is available here. Any material developed by teachers relevant to the iFly experience can be sent to Cailin and contributed to a teacher resource page. (cailin@iflysfbay.com) Promo Code: “EDUCATION” 20% off first time flyer “earn your wings,” “spread your wings,” and “take flight” programs.

Scott Perry, Wind Energy: A Sustainable Future?: Scott discussed the possibilities for sustainable energy and some of the difficulties with such a discussion. One hurdle that teachers can appreciate is that each country or business entity deals in different units (barrels of oil, BTUs, kWh, etc.).  Scott suggested that everyone read David McKay’s book “Sustainable Energy Without the Hot Air;” it is a free publication that discusses different sustainable energy options. Jared Diamond’s book “Collapse” was also recommended which discusses several populations use and overuse of energy sources.. The United States (~5% of the world’s population) uses ~20% of the energy used in the entire world. Some companies are looking at larger wind farms along the coasts of the United States; it is a goal that 20% of the United States Electric Energy Production by 2030 is wind energy.

Byron Philhour, Lunar Landing Project: Students produce numerical simulations of an Apollo-style launch using kinematics & drag equations. Students are supplied with the mass, and the thrust in conjunction with a drag atmospheric model to create this information. This project also requires students to work with angular momentum, energy, etc. to prepare for the Advanced Placement exam. The Lunar Lander Project is a long challenging assignment meant to challenge AP level students.

Bernard Cleyet, Not the Usual Coupled Oscillators: Bernard discussed various experiments using coupled oscillators and their decay.

Kevin McLin, Using Global Telescope Networks for Research & Science Education: Kevin discussed various programs that use telescope networks and allow students in high school, middle school and even elementary school to work with data from these networks.

Bree Barnett Dreyfuss, Using Class Facebook Fan Pages: Facebook is a free online social networking site that allows people to share information, pictures, etc. A “fan page” can be created for a classroom that allows students to communicate with each other and the teacher in a different format. Instructions were given on how to create the page, as well as warnings and suggestions. You can visit Bree’s fan page or obtain workshop information on her website under “Professional Development.”

Business Portion of the Spring NCNAAPT meeting

The Fall 2010 meeting location has yet to be identified. Volunteers from CSU Chico, Carondelet High School and the Exploratorium Teacher Institute are willing to inquire about being used as a location.

Programming suggestions were made that:
- The Share & Tell should remain in the morning
- Multiple tracks for workshops (one high school oriented and one college level oriented)
- A speaker for our next meeting is needed; some suggested looking up local science organizations for speaker lists

The Treasurer’s report said that we were in the black but did see an increase in the cost of printing, postage and program printing. Suggestions were made that the “call for papers” which was initially a legal size paper and has now been decreased to a postcard should remain a postcard. Today’s income has not yet been added to the balance.

Elections were held for the 2010-2011 officers. Claudia Winkler is the current President but was away due to a family emergency. There were no other nominations for President. Alex Wurden and Leanna Felardo agreed to share the position of Vice President of High Schools. David Marasco was not present but had indicated he would like to continue the position. Lee Trampleasure, Bree Barnett Dreyfuss, Dennis Buckley and Paul Robinson indicated they would like to continue in their positions. The membership voted and approved the following officers for the 2010-2011 year:

President – Claudia Winkler
Vice President of High Schools – Alex Wurden & Leanna Felardo
Vice President of Colleges & Universities – David Marasco
Webmaster – Lee Trampleasure
Secretary – Bree Barnett Dreyfuss
Treasurer – Dennis Buckley
Program Chair – Paul Robinson
Section Rep – Paul Robinson

A raffle was conducted with prizes donated by several members, ARC and PASCO.

Morning Speakers

Neville (Bill) Reay of Ohio State University “My Corner of Physics Education Research; Clickers & Beyond”

Bill demonstrated how to use clickers for a simple survey of current occupation. Some features include a timer once the question is revealed and a graph is displayed with the results of the clickers. There are benefits of using clickers including active learning to the classroom by providing

- Constructivist approach to active learning
- Series of visual steps
- Cognitive conflict stimulating dialogue
- Real time assessments

The success of clickers depends on the questions asked! Research based concept question sequences can be used to assess the same concepts with different surface features (different entity, different situation, different representation). Bill demonstrated a progression of questions on circuits that progressively increased in difficulty that requires students to think while the professor does not have to lecture.

Through a study clickers were assessed on their ability to progress student learning. Surveys have shown that students enjoy using clickers because they feel more involved in the course and feel that the clickers help them learn. Studies done by the Ohio State University show that across the board, class averages showed higher post-test scores and higher end of class grades with clickers than identical classes that did not use clickers.

The main hypothesis of the study was that using problems synthesizing concepts that are widely-separated in the teaching timeline and using conceptually based questions as scaffolding (two questions followed by a synthesis problem) with repeated training can develop expert-like problems solving skills in students. CDs were made available that had sample clicker publications and relevant publications. The materials will soon be linked here.

Ken Crawford, “The Universe from my Backyard”

Ken discussed how his interest in astronomy began and continued into astrophotography. There are several organizations that have telescope farms with remote access available for teachers. Light pollution is an increasing problem in the United States and makes photographing the stars difficult. Ken continued by discussing specific difficulties in capturing photos, including the exposure time, tracking, equipment etc.

Ken uses several different software manipulations in order to reduce noise, remove atmosphere, sharpen the image, etc. The representative colors are assigned to images in order to make the image detail easier to view and also more engaging. Many of Ken’s fabulous images were shared as he discussed how the images have been created and compiled from multiple images. Ken is also the President of the Advanced Imaging Conference, Inc.  Ken’s website is: www.imagingdeepsky.com. You can also sign up to receive emailed images before they are published here.

Several animations of astronomical events are available free for download on the internet. Ken suggested the following websites:

• Astronomy Education Animation Page
• SNAP Animation Gallery
• Hubble Site Gallery
• Penn State Physics Animations
• Telescope Time for schools

Spring Conference Morning Share & Tell Notes:

Share & Tell:

Ann Hanks, PASCO & ARC retired: PASCO had to remove all lead from their products and in their production plants. Some lead spheres have to be replaced with tungsten spheres which are more expensive and smaller do to a higher density. Adaptors are available to use the new spheres; the Gravitational Balance that uses it is still the same price.

Jon Hanks, PASCO & ARC retired: Demoed PASCO new Fire Syringe that has had modifications to improve use.

Bill Simpson, ARC: Bill explained a new launch pad for bottle rockets that he saw on an episode of This Old House that are air pressurized with extra tall launch page for safety. There will  be two raffled off this afternoon and it will be demonstrated at lunch. Step-by-step instructions and video by Slater Harrison are available here.

Alex Wurden, Western Sierra High School: Alex demonstrated the Singing Rod which creates a standing longitudinal wave in a long metal rod with resin available in music stores. Holding the rod in the center (at a node), you can stroke one end to create sound. The rod can also be turned to create a Doppler Effect.

Bill Papke, ARC retired: Shared a twist of fate that when he bought “Galileo’s Dream” by Kim Stanley Robinson on July 10^th, 2009 and Galileo first looked through a telescope in July of 1609. A copy of the book has been donated to the raffle. Bill also shared a video of the “tablecloth trick” on the XXXL scale by using a a twenty foot table and a motorcycle. There is definite debate on the videos authenticity.

David Kagan, Cal State University, Chico: Demonstrated a projectile rod that models the decay of an objects height with gravity by dropping.

Bernard Cleyet, retired: Demonstrated an experiment with microwaves and filters to block radiation. A sensor was used to project the level as a sound wave to demonstrate the levels of intensity.

Alex Wurden, Western Sierra: Demonstrated several Physical Science Mnuemonics that can help students remember complicated formulas. Such as “Funny Emergency! Matador Tusk Attack!” for “F =m x a.” Funny pictures are often paired with the equations. Alex can be emailed at: alex.wurden@gmail.com.

Blaine Wells, ARC: Tennis ball launcher with Co2 cartridge power supply. Alternate barrels can shoot foam golf balls. Pressure vessel to barrel volume ratios are used for calculations; 3:1 will be a slow launch but 5:1 will guarantee a launch. Search “Co2 paintball cannon” for plans online from a variety of sources. PVC is not recommended; It is dangerous! Use black pipe instead for safety. A launcher will be in the raffle pile as well.

Chuck Hunt, ARC: Demonstrated a Ruben’s tube which is a large tube with small holes equally spaced along the length. One end has an input for flammable gas that fills the pipe; the other has a diaphragm on it that is put against a large speaker. As sound is pumped into the speaker the diaphragm is moved and creates a pressure wave inside the pipe. The tube’s flame will oscillate in a standing wave if a pure tone is played threw the speaker. As the tone is changed, a different number of wavelengths appears in the pipe. Music with pure tones in the right range work best. Six have been donated to the raffle. Holes should be 1/16” or smaller and a half inch to inch apart. Various videos and instructions exist online.

Don Rathjen, Exploratorium: Don demonstrated several resonators from the Exploratorium Snackbook. In one resonator, several balls of assorted sizes and on various lengths of dowels are all attached to a wood base. By shaking the base you can see that different frequencies of shaking make different balls move. This relates to seismology and engineering as such things have to be taken into account while planning. Quarter inch dowels are used and ideally balls of all the same mass and size (Don used Superballs). He also quickly demonstrated coupled oscillators.

Dean Baird, Rio Americano: Discussed using “Conceptual Physics Alive!” video series in his classes with questions  to be answered while watching. The accompanying questions will be sold by Arbor Scientific but he has some samples available. The newest edition (11^th) of the lab manual to accompany the Conceptual Physics textbook is also available as a sample for those that are interested. The lab manual should be available in the Fall of 2010. As a highlight, he shared some online resources such as Danny MacAskill who does stunt bicycle videos all over England, PhET Simulations from  the University of Colorado and his blog and website Book of Phyz.

Bree Barnett Dreyfuss, Amador Valley High School: Bree shared examples of a recent Electric House Project for physics. Students had to create a small house with two rooms, often made from a shoebox. One room was to have three lights in series (dim) and the other two lights in parallel (bright). Examples were passed around as well as an example of the project description. “Best of” pictures are available on her website as well as a video explaining how to build the switch.

Frank Cascarano, Foothill College: Many of us demonstrate pressure and force using a bed of nails but the demonstration is also large and can be cumbersome. Fran shared a miniature version of the classic demonstration that helps with repeatability. A plan was passed around that allows for a balloon to be tested against two nails and then against ten nails with addable weights. You can mail Frank Cascarano for more information.

Leanna Felardo, Oroville High School: Shared the Physics literacy report letter to the teacher that requires students to read a book about Physics and write a one page letter about the book.  It is virtually plagiarism-proof and requires students to actually read the book in order to complete it. Leanna also passed around an AP Physics Lab Notebook. Email Leanna for more information.

Afternoon Sessions Schedule: Spring Meeting

Saturday, April 17th, 2010

(See complete Friday/Saturday agenda here)

Contributed Papers, Video Clips & computer Bits – room 307

2:00 iFly Indoor Skydiving –Field Trips – Cailin Creighton

A discussion of physics topics relating to skydiving, indoor skydiving, and the operation of vertical wind tunnels.  Also, information on how to bring your students on a field trip to a vertical wind tunnel for an educational program that includes experiments, a lecture, a tour, and flying!

2:20 Wind Energy: A Sustainable Future? – Scott Perry

Other than hydro-electric and nuclear power wind energy has been by far the most robust of what many are calling green-energy.  What are our prospects for moving to a more sustainable balance between human needs and the Earth’s resources?

2:40 Lunar Lander Project – Byron Philhour

Students in AP Physics learn Excel and simulate the Apollo missions to the moon over the course of a semester.

3:00 Not the Usual Coupled Oscillators – Bernard Cleyet

The Keynote shows pics of the app. and motion pics. (Video?) of the normal modes, etc.

3:20 Bree Barnett Dreyfuss

Using Class Facebook Fan Pages

Our students are often on the cutting edge of new communication technology while teachers may take a little longer to catch up. Don’t be left behind! Try using Facebook to communicate with students and share information away from school. Although class websites offer a breadth of information and resources not easily shared elsewhere, they are not interactive for students. Come learn how my Facebook Fan Page is used and how to set up your own!

Quick & Dirty (& Fun) Physics Demoes – room 306

2:00  Physics Magic – Chuck Hunt

Magic tricks to use in class.

2:20 Constant Velocity Cars – Lee Trampleasure

An intro lab from the Modeling curriculum, in this activity students measure the position of electric toy cars every couple seconds, then graph position vs time to discover velocity is change in position / change in time.

2:40 Modulated LED and Modulated Coil – Don Rathjen

The original versions are in the Square Wheels book co-authored by myself and Paul Doherty, published by the Exploratorium in 2002. I’ll  show “updated” versions using an iPod to replace a transistor radio in both demos, and an LED flashlight to replace an LED plus resistor in the Modulated LED

3:00 The Visible Speaker, Coupled Coils, Lamps & More – Stuart Loucks

Some surprising E&M demoes

3:20 – 4:00 As Many Demoes As We can Do In 40 Minutes – ARC Staff

Something for everyone!!!

NCNAAPT Spring Meeting: American River College: April 16-17, 2010

April 16, 2010; Friday Evening Social

Technical Aspects of the “World’s Fastest” Aircraft: SR-71 (Blackbird)

Gerry Glasser

7:00 PM – American River College, Room 306

Jerry was an instructor pilot with 900 hrs on the SR-71. He now teaches at Jesuit High School. Presentation starts with the development of the aircraft, the Soviet response, crew requirements, and those “secret questions” that are no longer secret.

Soft drinks and cookies provided

RSVP to Chuck Hunt would be appreciated to let Jerry know how many info packets to bring.

huntc@arc.losrios.edu; phone: (916)484-8342

April 17, 2010, Saturday

Oldie But Goodie Demonstrations

The theme of this meeting is demonstrations we all know and love — because we don’t all know them. So bring a few favorite demos to share. You’ll have 15 minutes total for set-up, take-down and doing the demos and explaining how you use them. But don’t worry that everyone may have seen them before; everyone will find something to take away. We’ll run at least two tracks in the afternoon:

1. Quick & dirty (Quick and Fun!) demos
2. Video clips & computer bits

You may bring your own demo equipment, or ask, we have a lot of stuff. For track 2, there will be full projection set-up for Mac and for PC (including computer if you want it) that can also project DVD or VHS.

The goal is to give everyone a lot of ideas to take away. For demos, please send Chuck Hunt a description of your demos along with any AV or equipment requests, preferably by email at: huntc@arc.losrios.edu . He will compile all the demos into a NCNAAPT Demonstration Book for all attendees to have. For video clips & computer bits, please either have a site where the material is available or bring it on flash drive or DVD. We will set up a copy station and do DVDs of all submitted material for anyone who wants it. In either case, let Chuck know what you are doing so he can organize the tracks and minimize duplication.

Deadline for submission is Friday, March 26, 2010.

If you haven’t given a presentation at a conference before, this is a great time to start!

Program

Morning Session: American River College, Room 420

8:00 Registration, Coffee, Donuts, and other culinary delights (outside Room 420)

9:00 Welcome and Announcements

9:15 Show and Tell

Share your favorite demonstration or teaching tip. Handouts appreciated – bring 75 copies. Time limit of 5 minutes per person or you risk the dreaded Gong!

10:15 Break

10:30 Invited Speaker: Dr. Bill Reay; Ohio State University

Clickers in the Classroom – A Research-Based Approach

Based on the hypothesis that learning is context dependent, a new Clicker methodology has been developed that uses question sequences rather than individual questions. Each question in a sequence has the same underlying concept, but with different surface features. Sequences sufficient to cover a year of introductory physics have been created, validated, used at several schools, and evaluated at The Ohio State University for learning gains. The audience will use clickers to answer a couple of sequences and experience first-hand the advantages of this approach. Then, the 4-year development process will be summarized, with emphasis on the importance of student interviews. After the presentation, interested individuals will be able to obtain free CDs containing all question sequences and relevant publications.

11:30 Invited Speaker: Ken Crawford; President: Advanced Imaging Conference, Inc.

The Universe from my Backyard

Ken is one of the leading amateur astrophotographers in the world. If you read ASTRONOMY magazine, you will have seen his spectacular photographs. See examples of his work and hear how he does it.

12:15 Lunch – ARC Catering

(Outside Room 420)

12:30-2:00 ARC Demo Tours

Rooms 305, 306, 307

1:30 Business Meeting, Raffle

Room 420

2:00-? 15 Minute Demonstrations

A carousel of demonstrations, videos, and computer bits: See our web site after April 1st for a list of presentations that members will be presenting. These rooms are next to one another so you can move between them as your desires lead you.

Room 307 – Video Clips & Computer Bits

Room 306 – Quick & Dirty (Quick and Fun!) Demos

Room 305 – Contributed Papers

See complete list of afternoon presentations here.

Registration information

Registration is free for first-time attendees and students!

The rest of us pay only $25–which includes a lunch. A bargain at twice the price! Lunch tickets for first time attendees and students will be available for $15). Please RSVP to Chuck Hunt if you will probably attend so we know how many lunches are required. Vegetarian option available.

We will have ‘proof of attendance’ letters documenting attendance for any teacher who needs one for their district/credential professional development purposes.

Accommodations

There are three hotels nearby: Motel 6 ($50), La Quinta Inn ($55-75), and Holiday Inn ($99-133). See map below for locations and directions

Driving Directions:

• From Interstate 80, just north of Sacramento, exit east on Madison Avenue.
• At the third signal, turn right onto College Oak Drive.
• At the second light turn left onto Myrtle Avenue. ARC parking lots will be on your right.
• Turn into the 4th entrance to parking lots A/B.

Park at the south end of the lot on the left (lot A) in front of the brick buildings in the AAPT marked area. Follow the signs to Room 306 for the Friday Night Social or to Room 420 on Saturday morning. No parking pass is required if you park in the AAPT area.

Local Host: Chuck Hunt

email: huntc@arc.losrios.edu

phone: (916)484-8342

NCN AAPT Spring Meeting / Mini Conference

Friday & Saturday April 16^th & 17^th, 2010

American River College

Sacramento, CA (see map below)
Local Host: Chuck Hunt: email: Huntc@arc.losrios.edu

Sign up to present

Call for Presentations

We solicit presentations of 15 minutes in length. Suitable topics include teaching ideas, research projects, laboratory techniques, novel demonstrations, computers and instruction. Please send an abstract of your talk, with title, your name and affiliation, AV and equipment requests, and other requirements to the Program Chairman, Paul Robinson, preferably by email at laserpablo@aol.com. Deadline for submission is Friday, March 5, 2010.

Call for Demonstrations

Bring your favorite 5-minute demonstration for the popular “Show ‘n’ Tell”. Handouts describing your demonstration are encouraged. Likewise, giving contributed papers as Show ‘N Tells is specifically discouraged. Offenders will be gonged! Sign ups are day of the event, first come, first served (although it seems those who signs up always gets to present!). Do you have a great resource you want to share but are nervous about presenting to your peers? Our Show ‘n’ Tell is low pressure and a great place to give your first presentation at a teaching conference!

Program

Friday Evening Social

Plan on getting together Friday evening before the meeting. More details to follow in the program. We’ll also provide references for local lodging for Friday evening.

Saturday meeting/mini conference

Saturday starts at 8:00 with registration and socializing, and usually finishes 3:30/4:00. We have a brief business meeting around lunch time. Coffee/donuts is provided, and lunch is usually available for a reasonable price (reservations for lunch required). Exact details will be published once we have our speaker list set.

Other details

Dues and Don’ts

Section dues are $25 per year, due each Fall. If you cannot attend the meeting, remain an active member that will ensure you’ll receive all our mailings by sending dues to our treasurer Dennis Buckley, Liberty High School, 850 Second St., Brentwood, CA 94513. The registration fee for the Spring meeting is $10, payable at the door. First-timers are free! And don’t forget PTSOS participants—your dues are already paid!

Physics Teacher SOS (PTSOS)

PTSOS is an NCN-AAPT-sponsored project, funded by a substantial donation, allowing AAPT to deliver top quality help to physics teachers in their vulnerable first years of teaching. Workshops are now conducted in both San Mateo and Sacramento. Other veteran teachers are being signed up to help out small groups of local teachers through mentorships and also to help run workshops. Interested teachers are encouraged to visit the website (www.ptsos.org) and contact outreach coordinator Stephanie Finander at sfinander@sbcglobal.net for more information.

Map

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Other Upcoming AAPT Events

• Winter AAPT Meeting, Washington DC, February 13-17, 2010
• Summer Meeting, AAPT, Portland Oregon, July 17-21, 2010
• Fall Meeting, NCN AAPT, 2010, not yet scheduled

Save the date: NCNAAPT Spring Conference

Our spring meeting/conference will be held at American River College (near Sacramento) on April 16th (afternoon/evening) and 17th (all day).

Mark your calendars now. Coming soon: Call for papers, speaker list, travel details, etc.