Transcript Physics Teachers Conference

2014
STAV/AIP
Physics Teachers
Conference
It is wrong to think that the task of physics is to find out how
Nature is. Physics concerns what we say about Nature.
Niels Bohr
Where do I sit?
Please sit at the Table Number
on your Name Tag
To foster networking, the others at your
table are teachers from nearby schools.
Program Changes
Sessions cancelled:
A9, A14
B9, B13, B15,
C6, C7, C13, C15, C16
D8, D14
E6, E11
F2
G3
.
The more success the quantum theory has, the sillier it
looks. Albert Einstein - 1912
Workshop A16: Synchrotron Tour
Car Pooling?
To: Those who have booked A16,
if you wish to car pool, meet at the lectern
after the discussion session.
Where are the new Physics Labs?
The old 1st Year Physics Labs have gone. The
new ones are on the ground floor of Building 27.
The entrances are off the lobby to the S5 lecture
theatre.
Check the map on the back of the program for
directions.
Wireless Access
Connect to SSID: guest-wireless
Username: ext-stavphy
Password: physics2014
The number of users online is limited, so please
log off when finished.
Laptop locker keys: Available at Registration.
Sessions: C12 & E8
Chief Assessor’s Report
Please Note: The purpose of this session to
provide feedback to teachers on how their
students performed on last year’s exam.
It is not the place for comment on the exam or
specific questions. Such concerns should be
directed to the Examinations Branch, VCAA.
What’s in your folder?
AIP Newsletter
• Events for students and teachers
• What does the Committee do?
• Map of website vicphysics.org
Notepad and Evaluation slips
AIP Travelling Scholarship
• The AIP Education Committee is offering a
scholarship to support one teacher to attend an
international Physics Teachers Conference
during 2014 and January 2015.
• The scholarship is worth up to $2000.
• Applications to AIP Ed Comm by 2nd May.
• Check www.vicphysics.org/scholarship.html
for further details and possible conferences.
AIP Support for
Beginning Physics Teachers
Support for:
• First Year Outs
• Those returning to Physics teaching
• Those asked to take on a Physics class
Two Programs:
1. In-Service Program
2. Mentor Scheme
AIP Support of
Beginning Physics Teachers
1. In-Service Program
• Day in-service: Monday 7th April
• Venue: Brunswick Secondary College.
• Cost: None; Travel support for country participants.
• To apply: www.vicphysics.org/support.html
One does not, by knowing all the physical laws as we know them today, …
AIP Support of
Beginning Physics Teachers
2. Mentor Scheme
• The AIP Education Committee will fund several retired
teachers to work with ‘beginning physics teachers’.
•
They will be available for one meeting during each of
Terms 1, 2, 3 and 4 and be available for regular phone
and email contact.
•
To apply www.vicphysics.org/support.html
… immediately obtain an understanding of anything much.- Richard Feynman
Physics Equipment Grants
The AIP (Vic Branch) Education Committee plans
to use some of its funds to provide essential
physics equipment to under-resourced schools
with negligible equipment budgets.
Schools will need to apply by the last Friday of
Term 1.
Grants will be made later in the year.
Check the handout for more details.
Victorian Young
Physicists’ Tournament (VYPT)
For: Year 10 and 11 students, in teams of three.
What do they do?
• conduct three open-ended experimental
investigations,
• prepare reports, and ..
Victorian Young
Physicists’ Tournament (VYPT)
Then in competition in December…
• They describe and defend their methods,
results and analysis,
• They challenge the reports of other teams.
Victorian Young
Physicists’ Tournament (VYPT)
Topics for 2014
1.Conductivity of pencil lines: The lines, drawn by so-called ‘lead’
pencils, conduct electricity. Investigate the factors that determine the
resistance of the line.
2. Bouncing ball If you hold a Ping-Pong ball above the ground and
release it, it bounces. The nature of the collision changes if the ball
contains liquid. Investigate how the nature of the collision depends
on the amount of liquid inside the ball and other relevant parameters.
3. Rubber motor A twisted rubber band stores energy and can be
used to power a model aircraft, for example. Investigate the
properties of such an energy source and how its power output
changes with time.
AIP 2014 Photo Contest
•
•
•
•
•
Open to students only,
Students may enter more than one photo,
Prize pool: up to $1000,
Closing date: First day Term 4,
Judging by panel.
AIP 2014 Video Contest
• Open to students in Victorian schools.
• Topic: Students are encouraged to video a discussion
between two or more students regarding Climate
Change in which some students ask FAQs and the other
students answer the questions explaining the Science
involved with or without visual aid, à la Veritasium
• Max: Three minutes of video
• Prize pool: up to $1000 per category
• Closing date: First Day of Term 4
If this sticker is blue, you're driving too fast
Physics Days at Luna Park
The dates for 2014 are:
Tues 4th March
(FULL)
Weds 5th March
(FULL) and
Thurs 6th March
(FULL).
Cost $23.95 per student. Open from 10:30am until 2:30pm.
Worksheets / videos are available
www.vicphysics.org/lunaworksheets.html
Special Features:
• RAAF Roulettes Aerobatics Display on each day at 10:00.00am
on nearby St Kilda beach,
• Synchrotron Tour before or after.
BOOKINGS CLOSED
Using Satellite Data in the Classroom
Morning Tea offering:
Paul Butler has used FUNcube data in the
classroom. The data can be easily accessed by an
iPad.
To find out more, see Paul at Table 4 during
Morning Tea. Handouts available.
Physics Manual for Lab Techs
The Laboratory Technicians Association of
Victoria (LTAV) has produced a book of advice on
physics equipment for lab techs, 75 pages in
length.
It can be purchased from LTAV for $23 for the CD
and black and white hard copy.
Check out http://www.ltav.org.au/
Joining the AIP
Associate membership:
$103 per year
Benefits:
• Physics Teachers’ Conference discount
• ‘Australian Physics’ magazine, 6 per year.
• Reciprocal membership with Institute of
Physics (UK) among others (reduced rate for
joint membership).
http://www.aip.org.au/info/
AIP Education Committee
Who are they?
A committee of physics teachers, teacher
educators and academics.
When & where do they meet?
Next at University High School, 11th March, 5pm–
7pm.
Teachers are encouraged to attend meetings,
contact Sue Grant, the chairperson at
[email protected]
AIP Education Committee
What do they do?
• Liaise with VCAA on curriculum matters,
• Distribute an email newsletter to physics teachers
several times each term,
• Administer a website of resources for teachers:
www.vicphysics.org ,
• Prepare a detailed review of the VCE Physics Exam,
• Plan this STAV/AIP Physics Teachers Conference, and
other PD activities,
• Organise physics activities for students, such as the
Competitions and Physics Days at Luna Park.
AIP Education Committee
Who comes to meetings?
Gary Bass
Retired Theo Hughes
Monash University
Chris Bowen Caulfield Grammar (WH) Barbara McKinnon John Monash Sci S
Keith Burrows
Milorad Cerovac
Neil Champion
Gary Cohen
Retired Shane McLean
St Margaret’s School
King David School Oscar Menuel
St Michael’s GS
Buckley Park SC Bronwyn Quint Hoppers Crossing SC
Retired Dan O'Keeffe
Retired
Paul Cuthbert University High School Alan Reynolds
Jonathan de Booy
Russell Downie
Sue Grant
Colin Hopkins
Retired
Aust Synchrotron Frances Sidari
Lakeview SC
PLC Dianne Wilkinson
Box Hill Institute
Bialik College
and you?
Box Hill HS
AIP Education Committee
Physics News by Email
An electronic newsletter is sent to over 1000
physics teachers about once a fortnight.
To be a recipient, email the AIP at
[email protected]
Useful resources from previous emails are at
www.vicphysics.org/news.html
Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible. Lord Kelvin
Physics: Know your world to change your world
Physics is great - 40 orders of magnitude can’t be wrong
Radio has no future. - Lord Kelvin
Physics is like sex, it produces valuable results, but that is
not why we do it. - Richard Feynman
Stand on the shoulders of giants - get a physics degree
X-rays will prove to be a hoax. Lord Kelvin
My goal is simple. It is complete understanding of the universe,
why it is as it is and why it exists at all. - Stephen Hawking