2012
STAV/AIP
Physics Teachers
Conference
It is wrong to think that the task of physics is to find out how
Nature is. Physics concerns what we say about Nature.
Niels Bohr
VCAA Session: 4pm in S3
Briefing on the results of the VCAA Survey with Q & A
by Maria James, Science Curriculum Manager.
The purpose of the session is to:
•
report on the findings of the recent VCAA survey,
•
answer questions from teachers and
•
seek the views of teachers on the possible exam and
SAC options.
Maria will present the teachers’ views to the VCAA Board
on Weds, 29th Feb.
VCAA Session: 4pm in S3
Briefing on the results of the VCAA Survey with Q & A
by Maria James, Science Curriculum Manager.
There is a Survey Sheet on your seat. You can comment
on :
• Exam: SAC weighting
• Exam length
• What content is examined
• Choice of Detailed Study
Please complete and return today, at session or earlier.
What’s on my seat?
AIP Newsletter
• Events for students and teachers
• Climate Change Workshop
• Physics Teacher Career Survey (to complete today)
Luna Park flyer
VCAA Survey on End of Year Exams
(to complete today)
Notepad and Evaluation slips
Physics Teacher Career Survey
Please complete this survey on your seat, while you are
waiting for the keynote address to start.
It can be placed in an Evaluation Box at the end of this
or any session or posted to AIP, PO Box 304, Glen
Waverley, VIC 3150.
The purpose of the survey is to obtain a profile of the
physics teaching profession. The information will be of
great benefit to the AIP in its lobbying of Government,
the universities and industry on behalf of teachers.
AIP Travelling Scholarship
• The AIP Education Committee is offering a
scholarship to support one teacher to attend an
international Physics Teachers Conference
during 2012 and January 2013.
• The scholarship is worth up to $2000.
• Applications to AIP by 13th March.
• Check www.vicphysics.org/scholarship.html
for further details and possible conferences.
AIP Support for
Beginning Physics Teachers
Support for:
• First Year Outs
• Those returning to Physics teaching
• Those asked to take on a Physics class
Two Programs:
1. In-Service Program
2. Mentor Scheme
AIP Support of
Beginning Physics Teachers
1. In-Service Program
• Morning in-service: Saturday, 17th March at
Victorian Space Science Education Centre: VSSEC,
• Day in-service: Monday 2nd April (This will
complement the Saturday program as well as being
a stand alone event) at Kew HS.
• Cost: None; Travel support for country participants.
• To apply: www.vicphysics.org/support.html
One does not, by knowing all the physical laws as we know them today, …
AIP Support of
Beginning Physics Teachers
2. Mentor Scheme
• The AIP Education Committee will fund several retired
teachers to work with ‘beginning physics teachers’.
•
They will be available for one meeting during each of
Terms 2, 3 and 4 and be available for regular phone
and email contact.
•
To apply www.vicphysics.org/support.html
… immediately obtain an understanding of anything much.- Richard Feynman
Sessions: C1 & D1
Chief Assessors’ Report
Please Note: The purpose of this session to
provide feedback to teachers on how their
students performed on last year’s exams.
It is not the place for comment on the exams or
specific questions. Such concerns should be
directed to the Examinations Branch, VCAA.
Victorian Young
Physicists’ Tournament
For: Year 10 and 11 students.
What do they do?
• conduct three open-ended experimental
investigations from a common set of 4 topics,
• then with others in their team of three they
prepare reports, and ..
Victorian Young
Physicists’ Tournament
Then in competition in December…
• They describe and defend their methods,
results and analysis,
• They challenge the reports of other students.
Hear one of the 2011 students in B4 workshop.
Victorian Young
Physicists’ Tournament
Topics
•
•
•
•
Rolling can: A can partially filled with water rolls down an
inclined plane. Investigate its motion.
Energy Converter: A body of mass 1 kg falls from a height of 1
m. Convert as much as possible of the released potential energy
into electrical energy and use that to charge a capacitor of 100
µF.
Pin-hole Camera: Study the characteristics of a pin-hole
camera and find the conditions for the camera to achieve
optimum image quality.
Black spoon: Blacken a spoon using a candle flame. If you
immerse the spoon in water it appears glossy. Investigate the
phenomenon and determine the optical properties of such a
“mirror.”
Climate Change Workshop
Date:
Venue:
Monday, 2nd April
Kew High School
Guest Speakers:
• Dr Graeme Pearman, a prominent climate scientist
who was Chief of the CSIRO Division of
Atmospheric Research from 1992 to 2002.
• Dr Peter Seligman, a member of the Melbourne
Energy Institute.
• Prof Neville Nicholls from Monash University, lead
IPCC author.
Check page 4 of the Newsletter on your seat for details.
AIP 2012 Photo Contest
•
•
•
•
•
Open to students only,
Students may enter more than one photo,
Prize pool: up to $1000,
Closing date: First day Term 4,
Judging by panel.
AIP 2012 Video Contest
• Open to students in Victorian schools.
• Topic: Students are encouraged to video a discussion
between two or more students regarding Climate
Change in which some students ask FAQs and the other
students answer the questions explaining the Science
involved with or without visual aid, à la Veritasium
• Max: Three minutes of video
• Prize pool: up to $1000 per category
• Closing date: First Day of Term 4
If this sticker is blue, you're driving too fast
Physics Days at
Luna Park
The dates for 2012 are
March: Tues 6th , Weds 7th (Full) and Thur 8th .
(So far 1700 students from over 100 schools)
Cost $22.95 per student. Open from 10am until 2pm.
Worksheets / videos are available at
www.vicphysics.org/lunaworksheets.html
Special Features: Synchrotron Tour and Aerobatics Display.
See flyer on your seat for details.
Physics is to Maths, what Sex is
to Masturbation: Richard Feynman
Luna Park: Comments
• The sheets explained how I felt and gave good
calculations to do and think about. (S)
• What did you like about the day: that we could actually
enjoy a hard subject! (S)
• Great chance to develop good relationships with the
students. (T)
• Good fun, students learnt heaps! (T)
• A good mixture of "social interaction" with
fun/enjoyment of physics in a positive context and yet
sufficient "real stuff" to justify the outing. (T)
• Worksheets: good diagrams to complete, enough
calculations too. (T)
AIP Education Committee
Who are they?
A committee of physics teachers, teacher
educators and academics.
When & where do they meet?
Next at Kew High School, 13th March, 5pm–7pm.
Teachers are encouraged to attend meetings,
contact Sue Grant, the chairperson at
susanmgrant1@bigpond.com
AIP Education Committee
What do they do?
• Liaise with VCAA on curriculum matters,
• Distribute an email newsletter to physics teachers
several times each term,
• Administer a website of resources for teachers:
www.vicphysics.org ,
• Prepare a detailed written review of the June and
November VCE Physics Exams,
• Plan this STAV/AIP Physics Teachers Conference, and
other PD activities,
• Organise physics activities for students, such as the
Competitions and Physics Days at Luna Park.
AIP Education Committee
Who comes to meetings?
Gary Bass
Macleod College Colin Hopkins
Chris Bowen Caulfield Grammar (WH) Theo Hughes
Keith Burrows
Retired Shane McLean
Neil Champion
Gary Cohen
Paul Cuthbert
Scott Daniel
Sue Grant
Monash University
Kew High School
Buckley Park SC Oscar Menuel
St Michael’s GS
Highvale SC Dan O'Keeffe
Retired
Kew High School Alan Reynolds Box Hill High School
Swinburne University Jim Royston
Jonathan de Booy
Russell Downie
Bialik College
RMIT TAFE
Aust Synchrotron Sue Lukie Mountain Dis’t Christian Sc
PLC Dianne Wilkinson
Box Hill Institute
and you?
Box Hill HS
AIP Education Committee
Physics News by Email
An electronic newsletter is sent to over 800
physics teachers about once a fortnight.
To be a recipient, email the AIP at
danok@bigpond.com
Useful resources from previous emails are at
www.vicphysics.org/news.html
Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible. Lord Kelvin