OAPT Ontario Association of Physics Teachers

OFT Workshop 2012

  1. Sound and Waves - Grade 11 (Dave).
    Help students develop a solid conceptual and mechanical understanding of sound waves, interference and resonance. By purposeful use of handson manipulatives, whiteboards and role-playing, students are lead to develop a robust understanding of the related phenomenon. The links to physics education research (PER) and brain-based learning (BBL) will be examined.


  2. Hands-On Cosmology - Grade 9 and 12 (Roberta)
    Play with elastic bands and paper clips, explore balloon geometry, wander with Alice and Bob in Wonderland and analyse real astronomical data to see how you can expand the universe and your mind.


  3. Cognitive Tools to Improve Learning – Grades 11 and 12 (Glenn)
    Humans are picture thinkers. By using a simple pictorial approach, you can help students develop a cognitive “road map” that will enable them to accurately develop ANY free-body diagram. Also, teach students a graphical technique that shows how energy flows through a system. Both of these cognitive tools will reduce misconceptions and improve student problem solving skills. Just add these to your current lesson plans and you are ready to go!


  4. A Physics Buffet for Hungry Minds – Grades 11 and 12 (Dave)
    In the last two decades Chef Dave has developed a host of carefully crafted guided-inquiry worksheets using simple manipulatives (often dollar store variety) to develop rich learning opportunities. In this workshop Dave will offer a ‘buffet’ of tasty conceptual treats on a variety of grade 11/12 physics concepts. Participants can snack – or feast – according to appetite. Think fresh.


  5. Amazing Light Demonstrations – Grades 9 and 12 (Roberta)
    Learn how to make and use a pinhole camera hat, a refraction dance, colourful scotch tape art, a variable single-slit device, a solar heating contest and a quantum eraser.


  6. A Newtonian Sand Box - Grades 11 and 12 (Glenn)
    Engage the minds and bodies of your students by helping them identify Newton’s Laws using “dollar store” materials. This activity can be used for formative experience or as a summative evaluation. Either way, it’s guaranteed fun and learning for your students!

  7. Great Web Resources for Special Relativity – Grade 12 (Roberta)
    Get familiar with free on-line resources from TRIUMF, Perimeter Institute, PhET, University of Nottingham and the Albert Einstein Institute and see how they can be woven onto an action-packed, student-centered unit on special relativity.


  8. Voltage: the Real Deal – Grades 9, 11 and 12 (Dave)
    The current trend of textbook analogies for electric potential difference can leave students (and some instructors) confused. This workshop will explore a sequence of guided inquiry activities to foster the concept of surface charge density as the mechanism for electric potential difference. By scaffolding through static electricity, electrical circuits and capacitance, a robust conceptual understanding will develop. A standardized set of pre-test and post-test conceptual questions (PER) will help frame the set of classroom activities.

  9. Teams, Games and Tournaments – grades 9 - 12 (Glenn)
    You will participate in a co-operative strategy where ALL students engage with key content prior to your unit test. Students walk away with formative feedback on what they need to study and understand before the unit test. TGT gives students the chance to practise skills and develop deeper understanding in a safe, positive and fun environment. The students really enjoy it too!

  10. Formative Assessment Strategies- Grades 11 and 12 (Glenn)
    Learn how to incorporate research-based thinking strategies to help your students develop key concepts from your physics lessons without changing your lesson plans. These highly engaging strategies and handouts are designed to reach every student in your class. Deep thinking assured!

  11. Make and Take Grades 9 - 12 (Dave)
    During this session you will get a chance to put together your own guided-inquiry worksheets, assessment tools, demonstration devices and manipulatives ready-to-use for next year.

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  12. Beyond the Atom: Remodelling Particle Physics - Grades 9 and 12 (Roberta)
    The media have been full of the Higgs Boson this summer - but what is a Higgs boson and how can we incorporate this breaking news in our courses? In this workshop, teachers will receive the latest resource from the Perimeter Institute and explore a few of the activities. They will play with balloons to understand Rutherford's alpha particle experiment, play with particle cards to tame the particle zoo and win a Nobel Prize, conserve 2-D momentum to detect neutrinos and top quarks and explore a computer simulation to detect the Higgs boson. (Teachers who missed the camp can order a free copy of the resource which includes a 30-minute video, student worksheets and detailed teachers guide from http://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/en/Perimeter_Explorations/General/Perimeter_Explorations/)
Roberta -Steve - Dave - Glenn -Rodica - Andy - Jaspal -Jessey - Bijan
John and Dave
Luc and Dominic
Hailey - Jessey - Owen - Olga
Jessey and Jim
Susan-Dominic-Bijan-Luc-Dean