Re: [Phys-l] Getting more physics classes offered...

[Michael Porter <listmoe@gmail.com>]

On 6-Feb-09, at 7:17 PM, Jon Dodd wrote:

> My school currently has about 650 students, and the Physics class is  
> only offered every other year. (That's 1 class out of 4 semesters of  
> classes) When I asked the guidance counselor why that was, the  
> response was that there was not enough interest to offer more  
> classes. Does anyone else have a school that is similar in size to  
> mine with more Physics classes taught?
> ...
> Does anyone think that it should be the guidance department that  
> encourages students to take Physics?

We have grade 9 & 10 courses that have several different strands  
(chem, bio, physics, earth sciences) and then in grade 11 and 12 they  
specialize. My comments are coming from that context:

Having Guidance encouraging students would be nice, but the most  
effective way to attract students to physics is to do it yourself. As  
the senior physics teacher, visit the junior classes and sell the  
program. Tell them about all the interesting things they can learn if  
they take physics -- relate it to real life. I tell them that they've  
already experienced most of the course between breakfast and getting  
to school (kinematics, dynamics, sound, optics, etc. are all  
represented). Maybe show them a demo or two to whet their appetite.

If you aren't teaching junior classes, then help out the teachers who  
are when they get to their physics content. It could be that they are  
not totally comfortable with the subject and that attitude is  
transferring to the students.

In my experience, nothing attracts students to a course like  
enthusiastic teachers. Rather than have guidance pushing them, you and  
your colleagues need to pull them in. Create a demand for the courses  
and your school will create the sections.

Mike

---
Michael Porter
Colonel By Secondary School
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada