My Students

I have a large class of Physics students this year. I am very proud to have the large enrollment. But the large enrollment also requires more equipment. Using groups of 4, I need 8 computers to effectively perform labs and most importantly graph this data quickly.

My school is a high poverty school in central North Carolina.

I am approaching Physics in a different manner this year with modeling. I also have about 3 times my normal enrollment in Physics. And though I am happy with my enrollment, there are additional demands for equipment. Our school also lost a computer lab this year that is being used by vocational classes. Given the amount of lab-time needed, the use of probeware to collect data and most importantly, the need to graph most every lab, will mean we need access to computers for use as graphing stations more than a few times each week. Physics modeling is proven by research to be an effective way to teach and learn Physics concepts. There are times when graphs can and should be done by hand, but what took me about 2 minutes to graph a set of data and then manipulate the data to determine inverses and squares and then re-graph the manipulated data became a very time consuming process when done by the students with paper/pencil.

My Project

It is not one activity students will be able to do but a series of activities throughout the year and for years to come. This equipment should last for a good number of years. I currently have a 1999 iMac that the class can use and a laptop that DonorsChoose.org funded last year that students still use. I did have to remove a 1996-era computer that refused to boot this summer. But I certainly hang on and use the technology as long as possible. I am requesting 2 laptops. My goal is to have 8 computers accessible to the students. Including the desktop for teacher use, I have three computers in my room. The school has a teacher laptop that can be used by students, and I have a 2001 Mac laptop and a 1997 era laptop that are personal items but I bring in to school as needed. I am certainly scavenging and holding on to any technology I have to help with this effort. Modeling is proven effective and the basis of much of the Common Core standards. Graphing is core to modeling, so computer stations are needed.

If I could show you my classroom, you would see I go to great lengths to make my classes inviting by being fun and exciting.

That is one reason my Physics enrollment is so large this year. But with that, comes extra needs. I would love to replace an 11 year old Mac laptop and 13 year old Mac desktop, but I know that will not be possible. I am just trying to get a computer into the hands of each lab group for lab interfacing, some lab report writing and mostly for the graph needs of Physics.