QuarkNet Associate Teacher
Institutes,
or
What do I do next year?
Fred Nelson
Manhattan High School
Manhattan, Kansas
Have you read the Teacher
Expectations for next summer?
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Working with the mentors to
plan a year-2 three-week
local institute for the
associate teachers
Working with the mentors to
recruit year-2 teachers
On average, ten new
associate teachers should
join the collaboration
So where to begin. . .
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Find learning activities
for your classroom
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Topics in Modern
Physics
Particles & Interactions
The Particle Adventure
Online QuarkNet
activities
Reading & writing
Find some more teachers!
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How were you recruited?
College of Education—Science ed advisor
University physics department
AAPT section
State Department of Education
State science teachers association (NSTA
chapter)
Don’t be a snob
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Don’t assume you can
only invite “physics”
teachers!
Adjust activities for your
audience
QuarkNet can help
meet requirements of
the Elementary &
Secondary Education
Act
Tell your story!
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Short presentation
Deliver wherever you
can
Give away stuff
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Posters
CD-ROMs
Pamphlets
Business cards
Find a rationale
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Survey of Kansas High School Physics Teachers—
2001
Confidence in teaching selected physics topics
Topic
Basic classical
physics
Basic modern
physics
Highly
confident
Confident
A little
confident
Not confident
34%
40%
22%
3%
13%
37%
40%
10%
Another opportunity presented from
survey data
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Approach to teaching physics
Use of computer data collection technology
Topic
Using an
Inquiry
Approach
Using
Computer
Interfacing
Highly
Confident
Confident
A Little
Confident
Not Confident
11%
37%
37%
14%
10%
27%
35%
28%
Do the right thing—use the Standards
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Science is for all
students
Learning science is an
active process
School science reflects
the practice of science
Improving science
education is part of
systemic education
reform
Free stuff for teachers to use
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Posters
Videos
CD-ROMS
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The Particle Adventure
The Atlas Experiment
Rulers
Topics in Modern
Physics
FermiNews
Cheap stuff for teachers to use
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Simulated particle
detector
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Iron filings
Magnetic marbles
Shoebox lids
Simulated Rutherford
experiment
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Plywood & wood blocks
Marbles
Crude woodworking skill
More cheap stuff
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Indirect measurement
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Carbon paper
Marbles
Simulated Millikan
experiment
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Envelopes
Index cards
Institute content resources
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Videos
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The Creation of the
Universe
Race for the Top Quark
(Nova)
Powers of Ten
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Discover
Scientific American
FermiNews
Book reading
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Video
CD-ROM
Understanding
Uncertainty (TLC)
The Quantum Universe
(Annenberg)
Magazine reading
From Quarks to Cosmos
(Lederman)
The Particle Garden
(Kane)
Websites
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QuarkNet
CPEP
Pedagogical ideas to consider
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Inquiry learning
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Constructivism
Learning cycle
Learning styles
Cooperative learning
Assessments
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Traditional
Alternative
Logistics at the QuarkNet Center:
things you have to figure out
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Dates
Graduate credit
Rooms
Schedule
Computers
Lab equipment
Other equipment
Follow up with mentors
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Money ($300/week)
Teacher selection
Expenses
Day 1
9:00 – 11:00
 Orientation
 Parking permit
 Paperwork
 Center tour
11:15 – 12:00
 Faculty presentation—A very
brief history of particles
12:00 – 1:00
 Lunch on your own
1:00 – 2:45
 Browse The Particle Adventure
3:00 – 4:00
 Particles & Interactions
activity— Fundamentally
speaking
Day 2
9:00 – 9:15
 Questions & answers
9:15 – 10:30
 Faculty presentation—
Current experiments
10:45 – 12:00
 Particles & Interactions
activity— Rutherford’s
discovery
1:00 – 4:00
 Active Learning workshop
Application
Exploration
Concept Introduction
Some other ideas for sessions
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Cosmology
Fusion
Nuclear science
Current events
National Board
Certification
Science standards
State assessments &
accountability
Other things you can do
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What’s your expertise?
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Global positioning
system
Nuclear radiation
experiments
Modeling method
CASTLE electricity
Physics with computers
Tours of other facilities
By the way, spend your mini-grant
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$250
Reimbursed
Simple classroom
transfer plan
Books
Equipment
Materials
Software
Adult learners
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Select faculty speakers
carefully
No more than 90
minutes per session
Breaks
Activities
Parking lot
No stupid questions
Have more than you
think you need
Other considerations
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Produce something
Document your
workshop
Reflection time
Bonding time
Laughing time
Have fun!
Goals
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Learn something about
particle physics
Experience science
being done
Take it to your students
Keep the dream alive
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University-High School
Partnerships
To infinity and beyond
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Year 3 Institute
Thanks for your interest
http://classrooms.usd383.org/fredn/
fredn@manhattan.k12.ks.us