Re: [Phys-l] Students create a new approach to AP Physics

[Hugh Haskell <hhaskell@mindspring.com>]

At 21:18  -0500 2/11/07, Bwillard1912@aol.com wrote:

> The students enlightened me to the logic that many of their  contemporaries
> are now adopting.  The students TAKE the AP classes to obtain a higher HIGH
> SCHOOL  GPA, thus increasing odds for higher 
> scholarships and acceptance to the
> top  colleges of their choices.  In the  process, they obtain significant
> knowledge of Physics, enough to have a 
> more-than-average chance to pass the AP
> Exam.
> They do not want to exempt out of the first year Physics course; instead,
> they WANT to take it, thinking it will be an easy 'A' because of what they
> learned in the High School Class.  They take the 
> College level class, and make an
> 'A' in it because of the  knowledge they've obtained in the HS course; they
> have an easier load during the  first year at college, and the 'A' affecting
> the COLLEGE GPA.
> When the AP Exams of my students were returned to me, those students who
> followed this course of action had attempted no 
> problems in their exam  booklets.
> Their logic is impressive; they have designed a system to benefit them in
> both worldsŠ high school and college.  The AP Physics results from my school
> were significantly lowered because  of this action plan.

I'm not surprised by this observation. I think 
that the current thrust of the AP program will 
engender this attitude among many students. The 
practice of many high school districts of adding 
additional points to the GPA for taking "honors" 
or AP/IB courses also contributes to this.

Unfortunately, for most of them, it won't work. 
First most colleges that I have been in touch 
with, pay no attention to the artificially 
enhanced GPAs, recalculating them in accord with 
their own criteria. Secondly, students who go 
into a course expecting an "easy A" usually don't 
take the course seriously and end up struggling 
to maintain a C. I have had students of mine fall 
into exactly that trap. They thought they could 
take a rest in their college physics course 
because they did well in their HS AP-course, but 
they made the mistake of thinking that what they 
remembered from the previous year was enough. It 
wasn't. They learned a hard lesson. I hope that 
they profited from it.

Hugh
--

************************************************************
Hugh Haskell
<mailto:haskell@ncssm.edu>
<mailto:hhaskell@mindspring.com>

(919) 467-7610

Hard work often pays off after time. But Laziness always pays off now.

			February tagline on 2007 Demotivator's Calendar