Concerning the question of what to cover in a physics course: It's
interesting to read about trends nationwide.
According to the 1999 A.I.P. report "Maintaining Momentum: high
school physics for a new millennium", recent changes made within existing
physics courses are "widespread and well received". I quote from page 19:
"... The introduction of 'active learning' techniques was mentioned
by almost half the respondents and favorably viewed by 90% of those. And
almost a third of the respondents reported changes in the topical coverage
of their introductory courses. This seems directly relevant to recent
discussions about the topics covered in introductory physics courses at all
levels, with complaints that either the number was too great or that the
wrong ones were being included. Interestingly, the number of teachers
reporting topics added equaled the number mentioning topics removed. At the
same time, there were clear patterns in the specific topics mentioned, with
heat and kinetic energy leading the list of topics removed and modern
physics and electricity and magnetism heading the list of those added."
Percent of teachers reporting that in recent years they:
* introduced 'Active Learning' techniques in physics: 44%
* changed topics covered in introductory physics course: 31%
* added a new physics course: 24%
(Source: 1996-97 AIP High School Physics Teacher Survey)
About 2500 high school physics teachers nationwide participated in
the survey, out of roughly 19,000 physics teachers (the definition includes
those who teach as little as one section every other year).
The 77-page report is by Michael Neuschatz and Mark McFarling. It
can be downloaded in pdf at <http://www.aip.org/statistics>.
Jane Jackson, Co-Director, Modeling Instruction Program
Box 871504, Dept.of Physics & Astronomy,ASU,Tempe,AZ 85287
480-965-8438/fax:965-7331 <http://modeling.la.asu.edu>