Raise the Bar …. They Can Reach It Willis Shanor Physics/Pre-Engineering Instructor

Canadian Valley Program  Juniors  General physics – mechanics and E & M  Pre-engineering  Introduction to Engineering Design  Principles of Engineering  Pre-Calculus  Trig and functions  Start calculus after spring break  Requirements  70% on Plan test in math and science  A’s and B’s in math/science courses  Algebra 2 (use E2020 over summer if needed)

Canadian Valley Program  Seniors  Calculus BC  Review derivatives  Finish material around spring break  Pre-Engineering  Digital Electronics  Engineering Design  Physics-C  Mechanics  E lectricity and Magnetism

What We Expect  College level courses  Teach to the rigor of a college course  Push the students to change their mindset from high school to college  Hard work is required to be successful  Goal: Prepare them to be successful in college  Whether they take AP tests or not

AP Summer Institutes  Taught by your peers  4 days long; subject experts; OK currently covers costs  Always learn something new  Provide ideas on teaching difficult topics  Answer your questions  Cover characteristics of AP tests  Exchange of ideas with fellow teachers  Provide books, handouts, and other resources

My Approach  Smart board lectures interspersed with problems  Work problems as examples  Tests are AP type multiple choice and free response  Grade on AP scale (rule of eighths)  Use outside sources  Fall final: timed, old AP test  “4” automatic A for semester  Use old multiple choice tests as packets  Review two weeks prior to AP Physics test

Mix with Fun  2-liter, water bottle rockets  Lab: juniors – loss of energy; seniors – find the drag coefficient  Use Autodesk Inventor to design and 3-d print nose cone  Competition: keep airborne for 15 seconds and beat my time

Mix with Fun  Competitive labs  Projectile launchers  Juniors – launcher mounted on table, determine landing spot  Seniors – determine launch angle and hit moving target  Participate in Vex Robotics  Last year each class formed a team  Require them to go through engineering design process

Results  Calculus BC – 92% (out of 50)  Physics C  Mechanics – 85% (out of 48)  E & M – 70% (out of 27)