Physics activity at school level mostly involves

1
Physics activity at school level mostly involves
applying physics tools such as laws and
concepts to describe and explain events. The
nature of the events classically (crashes,
rockets) used usually provides motivation for
students to engage in this activity called
physics. I feel that my primary challenge is
to manage this engagement so that it results
in deep learning.
2
Different teachers, students and parents will
have different ideas on the process that
results in learning. What they will all
agree on, however, is that deep learning
should enable learners . over a length of
time (at least a year) to recall and apply
the concepts (terms, symbols), the
relationships (laws), and the application
processes that will describe and explain
unfamiliar events.
3

• You are about to be swamped with a lot of ideas
• that together form a system of learning
  management.
• I am hoping that you find at least one
• that makes attending my presentation worthwhile!
• My presentation will involve
• the description and explanation of
• how (the learning management structure)
• my eighty Y12 and Y13 students are encouraged
• to engage with physics and,
• what (resources) they are given to do so,
• and
• illustrations of my students responses to this
  idea from
• examples of their work and
• video clips of student interviews

4
What do you think generally about the homework
system?

• My students are expected to spend two hours each
  week
• engaging with events (old exam questions) in
  a special way
• so that they develop the following abilities
• identify relevant information about an event
  (underline),
• translate this information into physics speak
  (symbolise) and
• visualize the event (model),
• . so that they will be able to
• describe (calculations) and
• explain (explanations)
• the event.

Handout 1
5
The special way!
Students must

• Engage
• with groups of similar events at a time
• (repetition and reinforcement)
• using guidelines (US/MC/E guidelines)

Structure - Handout 2A
Events - Handout 2B
U/S guidelines - Handout 3A
Model Toolbook - Handout 3B
Compare (Mark) the result of their engagement
with given answers. (Students are provided
with a set of marking guidelines)
U/S answers - Handout 4A
U/S answers - Handout 4B
Comment on any DIFFERENCE between their answers
and the given answers. (Students are provided
with a set of comment guidelines)
6
This work is then graded by me using the
following criteria
Clear evidence of ability to motivate self study
as a primary and independent learning activity.
Quality of comments indicates learning took place
and/or a desire to learn.
Comments made on ALL crosses in ALL work.
Marking done tidily, carefully and per step with
calculations, with small ticks and crosses in ALL
work.
Underlining - tidily and carefully /Symbolizing -
attention given to subscripts and clarity/
Calculations maths rules applied per step in
ALL work.
Made a start and had a go
Handout 5
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• I do not teach in a special environment
• state school,
• Y12 classes are 28 and 30 students each
• the policy for dealing with complaints about
  teachers
• to the principal in a professional manner,
• is still an issue that needs addressing.
• However I teach all the Y12 and Y13 physics
  students
• (so a student has no escape route he has to
  accept me as his physics teacher)

11

• I got the message across to each and every
  student
• that I was serious about their participation
• in this learning strategy.
• I discussed my expectations with the principal
  and got a letter prepared .
• Students that did not respond appropriately in
  the first week of the year
• received this letter,
• received a phonecall home to discuss the issue
  ,
• had to state the days and times during the
  second week
• when they were going to do their 2 hours
• Students that did respond appropriately were
  rewarded in the short term and long term

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Which of the following activities do you think is
the most useful in understanding the physics
involved underlining, symbolizing or modelling
?
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Do you feel that it helps your learning of
physics to think and comment about the
differences between your and the given answers?
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Do you like finding mistakes in the given answers
or do you find it frustrating?
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Has your homework each week become a habit or has
it remained an effort?
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