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Physics-Chemistry-Biology: A Logical and Effective Sequence

Physics-Chemistry-Biology: A Logical and Effective Sequence. Adapted from Rex Rice’s presentation at AAPT Summer 2002. Physics First: Not a New Idea. Physics and the High School Sophomore (Hamilton, TPT, 1970) Physics in the Tenth Grade (Sousanis, TPT, 1971)

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Physics-Chemistry-Biology: A Logical and Effective Sequence

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  1. Physics-Chemistry-Biology:A Logical and Effective Sequence Adapted from Rex Rice’s presentation at AAPT Summer 2002

  2. Physics First: Not a New Idea • Physics and the High School Sophomore (Hamilton, TPT, 1970) • Physics in the Tenth Grade (Sousanis, TPT, 1971) • The Illogic of Teaching Bio Before Chem and Physics (Palombi, TPT, 1971) • Take Physics to Ninth Graders With Budget Savers (TPT, 1974) • High School Physics Should be Taught Before Chemistry and Biology (Haber-Schaim, TPT, 1984) • Physics Before Chemistry (Bolton,TPT, 1987) • A Case for a Better High School Science Sequence in the 21st Century (Myers, TPT, 1987) • Freshman Physics (Hickman, The Science Teacher, 1990)

  3. Haber-Schaim Article • Average of 23 Chemistry Prerequisites in Biology Textbooks • Average of 31 Physics Prerequisites in Chemistry Textbooks • No Biology Prerequisites in Physics Textbooks • Average of 2 Chemistry Prerequisites in Physics Textbooks

  4. Committee of TenNational Education Association1892Recommendations Regarding Physics: • The study of chemistry should precede the study of physics. • The study of physics should be pursued the last year of high school.

  5. Reasons for Traditional Biology-Chemistry-PhysicsSequence at Turn of Century Start with biology because: • Relied mostly on memorization • Required almost no mathematics

  6. Reasons for Traditional Biology-Chemistry-PhysicsSequence at Turn of Century Follow with chemistry because: • Relied mostly on memorization and detailed experimental procedures • Required only modest amounts of mathematics

  7. Reasons for Traditional Biology-Chemistry-PhysicsSequence at Turn of Century Make physics last because: • Required greater mathematical fluency • Relied heavily on problem solving, analysis, and critical thinking

  8. Algebra is still fresh in students minds Freshmen are enthusiastic and motivated Most students who start with physics complete the science sequence Increased interest in math courses Enrollment in senior physics course increases AP Biology can be the first biology course if physics and chemistry have been studied Advantages of TeachingPhysics to Freshmen (Hickman, 1990)

  9. Shortage of qualified physics teachers Opposition to change from “proven” sequence by parents, teachers, administrators, school boards Freshmen are more active, noisier, less coordinated Measurement and estimation skills are not good Trigonometry has not been studied Problems of transition of from middle school to high school level course Lack of problem solving and test taking skills Disadvantages of TeachingPhysics to Freshmen (Hickman, 1990)

  10. Implementation in Clayton HSClayton, Missouri • One high school in district • About 800 students in grades 9-12 • Fairly affluent suburban school district • About 20% of students are African-American students from neighboring city of St Louis

  11. Physics First at Clayton High School • Quantitative Science in place since early ‘60s • Other course thought of as “dummy course” • Best students already followed the Physics-Chemistry-Biology sequence • Algebra taken by all students in Eighth Grade

  12. Physics First at Clayton High School • Presented “Inverted Sequence” idea to curriculum committee in Spring of 1991 • Full inversion considered too radical a change • Two courses, Honors Freshman Physics and Freshman Physics, proposed • School Board approved change for the start of 1991-92 school year

  13. Freshman Physics: ‘91/92Text: Conceptual Physics-Hewitt • Light • Waves and Sound • Kinematics • Newton’s Laws • Work, Energy, Power • Circular Motion and Gravitation • Properties of Matter • Heat • Electricity and Magnetism

  14. Honors Freshman Physics: ‘91/’92Based on “Quantitative Science” • Geometric Optics • Plane Mirrors • Pinholes • Curved Mirrors • Refraction • Lenses

  15. Honors Freshman Physics: ‘91/92Based on “Quantitative Science” • Mechanics • Uniform Motion • Uniform Acceleration • Newton’s Laws • Work, Power, Energy

  16. Honors Freshman Physics: ‘91/92Based on “Quantitative Science” • Electricity and Magnetism • Electrostatics • D.C. Circuits • Magnetism

  17. Transition toPhysics-Chemistry-Biology • Chemistry teachers initially resisted moving chemistry to 10th grade • Initial resistance to “inversion” faded with departmental discussion • Complete inversion led by biology teachers • Period of one year where chemistry was offered to sophomores and juniors • “Inversion” completed by 1995/96 school year

  18. Reactions /Results • Chemistry teachers found that sophomores did fine with chemistry • Biology teachers were elated with their ability to upgrade the biology program • A.P. Physics “worked” as a one-year course since students entered with a physics background. • More students took two or more A.P. science courses since many were able to take A.P. Biology as a first-year course

  19. Shift to Modeling Methods • In summer, 1995 Rex Rice attended the first of three years of training in Modeling Methods in High School Physics at Arizona State University • In 1995-96 he started using Modeling in all of his physics courses, including freshman physics • Since then, four of five physics teachers have been trained in Modeling and are using it in Freshman Physics.

  20. How Has Modeling Changed OurFreshman Physics Program? • In regular Freshman Physics, breadth has been sacrificed for depth • The teaching has become much more student centered and less teacher centered • Students leave the course with better thinking skills, analysis skills, and ownership of the concepts they have studied in physics • In Honors Freshman Physics, the depth of study has been significantly increased.

  21. Why modeling?! • To make students’ classroom experience closer to the scientific practice of physicists. • To make the coherence of scientific knowledge more evident to students by making it more explicit. • Construction and testing of mathematical models is a central activity of research physicists. • Models and Systems are explicitly recognized as major unifying ideas for all the sciences by the AAAS Project 2061 for the reform of US science education.

  22. Adjustments to Curriculum:Freshman Physics • Start with CASTLE electricity • Introduces modeling with minimal math • Last unit bridges to mathematical modeling • Uniform Motion • Uniform Acceleration • Forces and Newton’s Laws • Electrostatics • Energy • Mechanical Waves

  23. Adjustments to Curriculum:Honors Freshman Physics • Uniform Motion • Uniform Acceleration • Newton’s Laws • Energy • Electrostatics • DC Circuits • Mechanical Waves

  24. How are the Courses Different? • Expected fluency with algebra • Amount of mathematical problem solving • Required “studentship” skills • Depth of coverage

  25. Placement: Which Students in Which Course? • Eighth Grade Teacher Recommendation • Ninth Grade Math Placement • Results of Science Reasoning Test • Results of EXPLORE test

  26. Placement Results • Typically about 25% of the students end up in Honors Freshman Physics • About 68% take Freshman Physics • The remaining 7% take Algebra/Physics, an integrated math/science course.

  27. Who Teaches the Course? • Value good teacher of freshmen over physics content specialist • Chemistry and Biology specialists have taught the course • Difficult to teach using Modeling Method without formal training • Insist on Modeling Training as a condition of hiring

  28. Does it Replace Physics in theJunior or Senior Year? • No! This was not our goal. • Physics at the Freshman year is the foundation of our Science curriculum • Physics in the Senior year is improved and can now explore a broader range of topics. • Physics enrollment in the Senior year has remained fairly steady, averaging about 20 to 25% of the student body • All students get some physics!

  29. Are Students Successful? • Low failure rate • FCI scores for regular freshmen comparable to those from traditional senior level physics courses. • FCI scores for Honors freshmen are significantly above those from traditional senior level courses and even above those for most modeling courses. • FCI scores for seniors entering do not diminish (and even increase) between grades 9 and 12 • FCI scores for seniors at completion are at the top • Students scoring above state average on MAP

  30. Are Students Successful? • Winners of Division 2 in Region 12 of Physics Bowl four times • Top ten finish in TEAMS competition every year since 1993 • Six national championships in TEAMS competition • Twice finished first and second in nation in TEAMS competition • First Place in Saint Louis University High School Physics competition eight of last nine years • 85% “five” rate on A.P. Physics exam

  31. Conclusions • Freshman physics makes chemistry more meaningful/understandable • Biology teachers are ecstatic about the changes they have been able to make in the curriculum • 100% enrollment in Physics • Nearly 100% enrollment in four years of science despite two-year state requirement for graduation • Students, Teachers, Parents, and School Board are happy with the change.

  32. Physics First at Clayton High School Rex Rice, retired in 2017 from Clayton High School 1 Mark Twain Circle Clayton, MO 63105

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