Physics in the ninth grade need not be taught conceptually, i.e.
"before math", even to students with poor math skills. My previous post
today gives an example of exemplary instruction to regular students that
unifies math and physics.
Modeling Instruction in Rex Rice's 9th grade regular physics course
in St. Louis is a realization of these ideas posted on Friday and
yesterday:
Tim Burgess said,
"What if physics provides a "need" for the math? What if math has a greater
clarity for students who see application in physics? One possibility is that
algebra and physics concurrently taken may be symbiotic. Students could
emerge both knowing and understanding math and physics more deeply."
John Mallinckrodt said,
"In physics the *only* acceptable validation is "agreement with the results
of experiment" ...
Rex Rice will probably lead a regional modeling workshop in St.
Louis this summer. UM-SL and 17 other universities in more than a dozen
states have applied for Eisenhower or other funds to hold modeling
workshops. UM-SL will know by next week if they've been funded.
Most modeling workshops are 3 weeks long, for high school physics
and physical science teachers. I'll post dates and other information on the
modeling website within the next 2 weeks.
Cheers,
Jane
Jane Jackson, Dir., Modeling Workshop Project
Box 871504, Dept.of Physics, ASU, Tempe, AZ 85287
480-965-8438/fax:965-7331. http://modeling.la.asu.edu
Genius must transform the world, that the world may produce more genius.