Practicums for High School Physics Teachers
Background and motivation (2006)
If frustration can be the mother of invention, then that’s how Physics Practicums were
born. Hank Ryan, then a new physics teacher at Minnesota’s Mounds View High School,
simply hated chapter test reviews. “These chapter reviews took exciting concepts and just
flattened them,” Hank says. “I wanted kids to understand that physics concepts are a real
live part of their world—and that they dictate how the world behaves. I wanted to show
them that physics can be experienced. That it’s something they can see with their eyes,
feel with their hands—and something they could learn to predict.”
The idea of a class practicum came to him whole one day, in a flash of inspiration. Well,
anyway, that’s Hank’s story and he is sticking to it. He worked out his first physics
practicum on Centripetal Force and gave it a try in his class. Though it went over well,
and he was excited about it, the idea got lost in the whirlwind of school life. But the next
year, when Hank got back to circular motion, he decided to use the practicum again. This
time, he invited his colleague Jon Barber to come see the practicum review session. Jon
was impressed with the results. And being a natural organizer and motivator, he dug into
the project with Hank. In fact, Jon was so good at inventing practicums that soon this
team of two had eight new practicums worked out in their heads, though not much on
paper.
In 1985 at a summer workshop for teachers held at the University of Minnesota, Hank
presented the practicum concept to 40 physics teachers. The university liked the idea and
made funds available for creating a written and somewhat illustrated version of the first
eight practicums for the forty. That winter the University of Minnesota, through the
efforts of Dr. Roger Jones, also made a video of Hank and his class doing a practicum.
Hank claims to have perhaps the only remaining copy of the video—if he could only lay
hands on it.
In any case, with the video under their belts, Jon began applying to any granting authority
that might have funds available to help further develop the idea. After many rejections, he
secured a grant from the American Institute of Physics (AIP) for a few thousand dollars
to develop new practicums and publish a book on how to use them. The summer of 1990
saw Hank and Jon spending most every day in the physics lab at Mounds View High
School reading physics books, playing around with equipment, writing and illustrating
practicums both new and old. It was a great summer. The work was exciting, and Jon was
so funny, Hank says he often returned home with muscles sore from just laughing.
In 1991, to fulfill a requirement of the grant, Hank and Jon went to Vancouver, British
Columbia, to give a paper about their practicums at the summer meeting of the American
Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT). With 25 draft copies of their book, Practicums
for High School Physics Teachers, in hand they ventured forth. “We were the first in the
day, so it was an early session. I hoped that maybe ten people would show up,” Jon
remembers.
Needing all the set-up time they could get, the two were up and working by 6:30 a.m. At
7:30, some teachers began to arrive. Hank asked why they were coming so early. “We
wanted to be sure to get a seat!” they responded. Hank and Jon were mystified, as the
room could seat 120 people. But by 8:00, the house was packed, with people sitting on
the stairs to boot. Hank and Jon were truly blown away by the response. Needless to say,
they were a tad short on copies of their practicum book.
After the great reception in Vancouver, Jon and Hank gave workshops and sold books
around the United States and Canada. They visited Boise Idaho, Bangor Maine, St. Louis
Missouri, Winnipeg Canada, and beyond as they spread the word about the value of these
exercises. Physics teachers were thrilled. Teachers from around the country, and as far
away as Japan, sent the duo new practicums to be added to the publication.
If this is your first look at the concept, Hank and Jon hope you become an advocate and a
user of the pedagogy. They have certainly seen positive results with their students. Jon
and Hank would like to thank everyone who gave them
encouragement along the way—even if just by showing interest—
and a special thanks to those who made a contribution. Both now
retired, Hank and Jon have had a great journey with practicums. To
physics teachers and students everywhere, they say, “It’s been great
fun—thanks for the memories, and good luck with your own
practicums!”
To order the book, Practicums for High School Physics Teachers, download an order
form at http://modeling.asu.edu/. Or send an e-mail or write to:
Henry Ryan
4446 Arden View Ct.
Arden Hills MN 55112
Phone: 651-490-0619
ryanx064@umn.edu