Technology Outside of the

Physics Classroom

Presented By

Zak Knott

Riverside – Brookfield H.S.

Joint AAPT

October 29, 2005

RationaleRationale

A traditional school day limits contact time A traditional school day limits contact time with students to only 45-55 minutes per with students to only 45-55 minutes per day. By utilizing the internet to allow day. By utilizing the internet to allow students to communicate we can expand students to communicate we can expand the school day while more deeply the school day while more deeply integrating technology into our curriculum.integrating technology into our curriculum.

OverviewOverview

My experience with physicsmonkey.comMy experience with physicsmonkey.com Class message boardsClass message boards Class “wiki”Class “wiki” Student & parent feedbackStudent & parent feedback

BackgroundBackground

As a new teacher I found catching up As a new teacher I found catching up students who had missed class one of the students who had missed class one of the most tedious parts of my job.most tedious parts of my job.

Originally wanted to create a place for Originally wanted to create a place for students to download missing or lost students to download missing or lost worksheets from.worksheets from.

www.physicsmonkey.comwww.physicsmonkey.com was born! was born!

PhysicsMonkey.comPhysicsMonkey.com

Established an online Established an online presence for the classpresence for the class

As the site went “live” As the site went “live” the interactivity of the the interactivity of the bulletin boards bulletin boards increased and the site increased and the site evolved into its evolved into its current rolecurrent role

Message BoardsMessage Boards

Gave students a place to communicate Gave students a place to communicate with each other about homework, notes, with each other about homework, notes, and lab assignments.and lab assignments.

To encourage students to use them I To encourage students to use them I added a “Question of the Week” to answer added a “Question of the Week” to answer on the board.on the board.

A Research Type QuestionA Research Type Question Well, I've opened the door. I guess we may as well run through it. . . Well, I've opened the door. I guess we may as well run through it. . .

In class last week I mentioned that there are a group of people known as In class last week I mentioned that there are a group of people known as the "Flat Earth Society" who truly believe that we live on a flat earth. Now, the "Flat Earth Society" who truly believe that we live on a flat earth. Now, before you immediatly laugh it off lets look at their arguments. Visit their before you immediatly laugh it off lets look at their arguments. Visit their webpage at: webpage at: http://http://www.alaska.net/~clund/e_djublonskopf/Flatearthsociety.htmwww.alaska.net/~clund/e_djublonskopf/Flatearthsociety.htm and read about and read about the evidence they offer for a flat earth. Also, I wanted to point out that the the evidence they offer for a flat earth. Also, I wanted to point out that the site http://www.flat-earth.org/ is a joke intended to mock the flat earthers (for site http://www.flat-earth.org/ is a joke intended to mock the flat earthers (for example, it claims that Australia does not exist, but the author is from example, it claims that Australia does not exist, but the author is from Australia). So please do not comment here on that site. You will find other Australia). So please do not comment here on that site. You will find other information by performing a Google search, just be careful that you've information by performing a Google search, just be careful that you've chosen a reputable source. chosen a reputable source.

What I'd like to see in your post this week is an argument for or against a What I'd like to see in your post this week is an argument for or against a round earth. The flat earthers provide some pretty convincing arguments so round earth. The flat earthers provide some pretty convincing arguments so please use what you know about physics to support one side or the other. please use what you know about physics to support one side or the other.

Sample ResponsesSample Responses

Honestly, I went to the website with as clear a mind as Honestly, I went to the website with as clear a mind as possible, but I found the arguments less than convincing. possible, but I found the arguments less than convincing. First of all, even before I looked at the arguments I First of all, even before I looked at the arguments I noticed that the use of language was far from noticed that the use of language was far from sophisticated . . .sophisticated . . .

That was very, um, creative I guess. I don't completely That was very, um, creative I guess. I don't completely buy it, however. I think the whole water argument was buy it, however. I think the whole water argument was pretty well thought out, and that if the earth was round, pretty well thought out, and that if the earth was round, we'd be falling off of it from the north pole. I don't know. we'd be falling off of it from the north pole. I don't know. I'm sure I would believe it if I didn't really know any I'm sure I would believe it if I didn't really know any better, but the whole geocentric thing really doesn't make better, but the whole geocentric thing really doesn't make sence, and we really shouldn't think the universe sence, and we really shouldn't think the universe revolves around us. . .revolves around us. . .

Creative Type QuestionCreative Type Question

For the question of the week this week you For the question of the week this week you have two options: have two options: 1) Compose a poem that could be used to 1) Compose a poem that could be used to explain energy to a third grader.explain energy to a third grader.

2) Create an experiment about energy that 2) Create an experiment about energy that could be completed by a third grade class. could be completed by a third grade class.

Student ResponsesStudent Responses

It can do work, It can do work, and it can play. and it can play. It lights your room, It lights your room, as bright as day. as bright as day.

It cooks your food, It cooks your food, and heats your tea, and heats your tea, It comes from the sun, It comes from the sun, and beneath the sea, and beneath the sea,

and all it could be, and all it could be, is energy. is energy.

Problem Type QuestionProblem Type Question

Other TopicsOther Topics

Create a mnemonic device to help Create a mnemonic device to help remember the resistor color coderemember the resistor color code

Write an email to the president explaining Write an email to the president explaining your position on a mission to refurbish the your position on a mission to refurbish the Hubble TelescopeHubble Telescope

Use an interactive web site to predict the Use an interactive web site to predict the likelihood of life existing on other planetslikelihood of life existing on other planets

Discuss the U.S. energy policy after Discuss the U.S. energy policy after conduction some independent researchconduction some independent research

Free Group DiscussionsFree Group Discussions

www.network54.comwww.network54.com groups.yahoo.comgroups.yahoo.com Search for “free Search for “free

bulletin boards”bulletin boards”

PhysicsMonkey WikiPhysicsMonkey Wiki

Added because of backlash from Added because of backlash from implementing modelingimplementing modeling

Students wanted me to put each days Students wanted me to put each days notes on the internetnotes on the internet

Since that sounded like a lot of work I put Since that sounded like a lot of work I put the responsibility on themthe responsibility on them

WikipediaWikipedia

An online encyclopediaAn online encyclopedia Content is created, edited, and maintained Content is created, edited, and maintained

by anyone who cares to do soby anyone who cares to do so Freely available & surprisingly completeFreely available & surprisingly complete Often criticized as unreliableOften criticized as unreliable

PhysicsMonkey WikiPhysicsMonkey Wiki

The good: The good: http://www.physicsmonkey.com/wiki/index.http://www.physicsmonkey.com/wiki/index.php?title=Kinematics_formulasphp?title=Kinematics_formulas

The bad: The bad: http://www.physicsmonkey.com/wiki/index.http://www.physicsmonkey.com/wiki/index.php?title=Definition_of_forcephp?title=Definition_of_force

Other Tools Present and FutureOther Tools Present and Future

Although I can’t see any usage statistics, Although I can’t see any usage statistics, anecdotal data suggests that the chat anecdotal data suggests that the chat room is used.room is used.

““Blogging” could be used to have students Blogging” could be used to have students create their own webpage about some create their own webpage about some topic.topic.

FAQ’s could be created for each unitFAQ’s could be created for each unit All of these tools and more are freely All of these tools and more are freely

available!available!

ConclusionConclusion

Message boards, class wikis, and other Message boards, class wikis, and other tools present students with a way to tools present students with a way to continue communicating about physics continue communicating about physics outside of the classroomoutside of the classroom

Overall the response from students has Overall the response from students has been very positivebeen very positive

Do You Want to Try This?Do You Want to Try This?

Visit www.PhysicsMonkey.com to have a Visit www.PhysicsMonkey.com to have a look aroundlook around

E-mail me zknott@rbhs208.org and I will E-mail me zknott@rbhs208.org and I will help you get startedhelp you get started