Dan Fullerton

RAPTOR, 1/14/12

Enhancing Physics Instruction Using APlusPhysics and RPE

Outline• Evolution of APlusPhysics• Regents Physics Essentials• Using These Resources to Support

• In-Class Instruction• Writing as Thinking• Exam Preparation

Evolution• APlusPhysics is a direct result of the question:

“What can you do to help this student graduate?”• Course notes, tutorials tailored to Regents

Physics placed online.• Interactive quizzes from a data bank of hundreds

of Regents questions.• Web resource for projects.• Physics In Action Podcast

Tutorials / Projects / Quizzes

Enhancements• Added discussion forums and blogs.

• AP students submit weekly blog posts.• Regents students use forums for discourse / reports.

• Video recaps to highlight essential information and applications.• More class time for inquiry, projects, group and

individual work.• Wiki (experimental).

Forums and Blogs

Regents Physics Essentials• Student request to take website material and

review packets and turn into a book.• Gathered input from a number of local and

not-quite-as-local physics teachers.• “The best review book is one students will

actually use.”

What’s Different About RPE?• Concise & friendly tone• Illustrations and diagrams• Sample problems

• Included directly following material

• Full solutions in FSA format immediately following the question

RPE Sample Pages

RPE Successes

• E-book and PDF licensing becoming popular

• Request for deeper “Honors Physics” version: 12/15/11

Using APlusPhysics In-Class• Students can watch video reviews independently.• Tutorials and interactive quizzes are helpful “unit

introduction” assignments.• Discussion forums allow “post-and-reflect” sequences to

happen automatically.• Use of online resources allows for more efficient use of

valuable class time.• Activities and explorations• Instructor assistance

Exam Prep• Students take old exams as diagnostic tests.• Self-assess the exams to highlight areas of

strength and weakness.• Use areas of strength and weakness to direct

corrective actions.• Review becomes a personalized, self-directed

activity.

Practice Exam Diagnostic

Sample Diagnostic Analysis

More Information

www.APlusPhysics.com

DFullerton@APlusPhysics.com

Twitter: @APlusPhysics

Blog: http://aplusphysics.com/flux