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 S3Briefing 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 :

Please complete and return today, at session or earlier.

• Exam: SAC weighting • Exam length

• What content is examined • Choice of Detailed Study

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 SurveyPlease 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 Program2. 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.htmlOne 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: Monday, 2nd April Venue: 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 isto 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 CommitteeWho 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 CommitteeWhat 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 CommitteeWho comes to meetings?

Gary Bass Macleod College Colin Hopkins Bialik College

Chris Bowen Caulfield Grammar (WH)

Theo Hughes Monash University

Keith Burrows Retired

Shane McLean Kew High School

Neil Champion Buckley Park SC Oscar Menuel St Michael’s GS

Gary Cohen Highvale SC Dan O'Keeffe Retired

Paul Cuthbert Kew High School Alan Reynolds Box Hill High School

Scott Daniel Swinburne University Jim Royston RMIT TAFE

Jonathan de Booy Aust Synchrotron Sue Lukie Mountain Dis’t Christian Sc

Russell Downie PLC Dianne Wilkinson Box Hill HS

Sue Grant Box Hill Institute and you?

AIP Education CommitteePhysics 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