PHYSICS FOR ELEMENTARY EDUCATION MAJORS

Physics 206

Mr. Dristle

PHYSICS FOR ELEMENTARY EDUCATION MAJORS Introduction: Science is not just a collection of factual information but it is a process of discovery. Scientists are naturally curious. So are children. Scientists make observations of the world around them, and then construct models of what they see. Just watch children at play and you will see them doing the same thing. Scientists make predictions based on their models and ideas. Children love to dream of what they will do when they grow up. So then are children actually scientists? Well........almost. They do need our guidance. We do need to teach them how not to jump to conclusions. We need to show them how to become organized. We can teach them how to think carefully and sequentially. We can help them develop skills in measuring, calculating, and in presentation. We can teach them how to anticipate the consequences of what they do. We can also show them that ‘making mistakes’ is not necessarily a bad thing, especially when we can learn from them. Most of all, we can show them that science, and especially physics can be fun! This is a physics course, not a methods course. We will be primarily concerned with how scientists learn and how you can mold children’s natural curiosity along that path. Consequently, we will learn by doing as much as possible. There will be many activities done during class time as well as in the lab (where you would expect them to be.) General Information: 1.

Your instructor is Mr. Kent Dristle, phone 312-2878, e-mail: [email protected]. web site: www.oswego.edu/~dristle Office hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in Rm. 120A (you have to go into room 120 to reach it). If you have a class at the same time as my office hours, then contact me and we will try to arrange another time to meet.

2.

Required textbook: Conceptual Physics Fundamentals, 1st edition, by Paul G. Hewitt, published by Pearson Addison Wesley ISBN 0-321-50136-5 / 978-0-321-50136-3

3.

Two in-class exams will be given during the semester. The exams will contain a mixture of short-answer and essay type questions. Some may require that calculations be done, but math will never be emphasized over concepts. In addition, a comprehensive final exam will be given at the end of the semester.

4.

Most of our classes will conclude with a mini lab activity (not to be confused with the course lab you must also be registered for.) You will have to finish the write-up for the activity for homework and turn it in at the beginning of the next class.

5.

Other types of homework assignments will include: a. chapter end questions from the textbook b. on-line quizzes (available on Angel) on what you read in the text and learn from the powerpoint presentations. c. construction of an elementary science lesson plan. The on-line quizzes are automatically graded by Angel. Your handwritten assignments will be collected, graded by me, and returned to you. Generally, late homework is not accepted unless you can prove to me that you have an extremely good reason for not

turning it in. on time. For specific information on the grading of assignments go to www.oswego.edu/~dristle/PHY_206_rubrics.html. 6.

Grading: Attendance: Class Activities Homework: Exam 1 Exam 2 Lab Grade Final Exam

5% 20% 15% 10% 10% 20% 20%

(other than write-ups for class activities) (supplied

by

your

lab

instructor)

You will receive a numerical grade (scale of 0-100) in each of these categories. At the end of the semester, your numerical average will be converted to a letter grade according to the following table: 94-100 A 90-93 A– 87-89 B+ 83-86 B 80-82 B– 77-79 C+ 73-76 C 70-72 C– 67-69 D+ 63-66 D 60-62 D– 0-59 E We will be doing a lot of class activities, including projects. Both group work and individual efforts will be considered in the grade. I will routinely post the grades you are earning on Angel. 7.

The “Lesson Plan Project” Near the end of the semester, you will be required to research an elementary science lesson plan on-line and then adapt or customize it to suit your own individual needs. You and your group will make a presentation to the class on what you’ve found and each individual group member will turn in their own customized version of the lesson plan. This will count as much as two of our regular homework assignments.

8.

Attendance is 5% of your overall grade. If you have to be absent from class, go to my web site: www.oswego.edu/~dristle, or to Angel where you can obtain the homework assignment and download a copy of the activity you missed. Copies of powerpoint presentations I use in class are also available on my web site and on Angel. If you are absent from class, it would be to your advantage to turn in the homework due that day via email instead of waiting until the next class to deliver it by hand.

9.

Measuring and calculation skills are important in any physics course. You should get yourself a simple calculator (if you don’t already have one) and bring it to class each day.

10.

Lab requirement: Please be certain that you have registered for a lab section to go with this course. You cannot pass this course without also passing the lab that goes with it.

11.

If you have special needs: The Office of Disability Services is available to assist students who have a legally documented disability or students who suspect that they may have a disability. If you have a disabling condition that may interfere with your ability to successfully complete this course, please contact the Office of Disability Services. (Alternative testing for students with learning disabilities is available through Disability Services.)

12.

As in any class, the college’s policy on honesty, cheating, and plagiarism will be enforced. For more information on the college’s policy on intellectual integrity see: http://www.oswego.edu/administration/registrar/policy_text.html#cpii

13.

If you need help: Check out the on-line resources available to you at www.physicsplace.com And, of course, you can e-mail me, or come to see me during office hours.

Topics covered: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Matter Forces and Motion Forces and Newton’s Laws Energy

14.

What you can expect from me: I will be available for help during office hours, and by appointment at other times. You can also send me your questions via e-mail. (I check my e-mail at least once each day, including weekends!) I expect you to work hard and give this your best effort. Remember: You are not just doing this for a grade for yourself. You are preparing yourself to educate the next generation! You are doing it for them. Don’t take a minimalist approach to this course! The best kind of mental attitude to have is to start to thinking of yourself as a teacher rather than as a student.

15.

I’m looking forward to a great semester and I hope you are too!

Mr. Dristle

5. 6. 7. 8.

Momentum and Impulse Fluids, Temperature, and Heat Electricity and Magnetism Wave Motion, Light and Sound