Taught by Connie Wells
Overview
Participants in this summer institute will have the opportunity to meet and learn from others who are developing Advanced Placement Physics programs in their schools. Current and aspiring AP® Physics teachers will strengthen their knowledge of the subject, develop laboratory and demonstration materials for use in their own classrooms, become familiar with the AP® Physics program and preview its modified scope and sequence starting in the 2024-25 school year. They will come away from the institute with many materials, including the College Board AP® Physics packet (electronic copy), sample course syllabi, and the solutions to the 2026 free response exams.
Time will be spent working on problem solving techniques and discussing approaches to teaching AP® Physics —including development of a course syllabus and designing labs and assessments that address higher order thinking skills. Participants will be given opportunities to work in breakout groups to discuss and present problem solutions and discuss approaches to teaching. Materials for AP® Physics 1 will be provided on Google Drive, allowing teachers to select from activities that are most needed for their classrooms. Everyone will develop a course plan and timeline—either using their existing syllabus or starting the framework of a new syllabus.
In advance of the institute, please do the following:
- Ask your school AP® Coordinator or other official to authorize your permissions to your AP® course for 2023-24 so you can gain access to AP® Classroom.
- Download a copy to your computer of the Course and Exam Descriptions for the AP® Physics course for which you are preparing
Tentative daily syllabus
On Day 3 or Day 4, a guest Curriculum Lead from The College Board will be invited for a 30-minute “Ask the Expert” session to answer your questions related to the new CED changes, corrections, and new exam testing format.
Monday, Day 1
- Introductions
- Overview of institute goals
- Review of digital materials supplied for participants
- AP® Physics 1 Complete Examination of CED (Revised in 2024-25)
- Test specifications (changes and revised testing methods) and four new required FRQ problem types
- Small group assignments of Free Response questions for presentation
- Discuss a plan for preparation of individual course syllabus with timeline
- Set of activities for development of motion and graphing: (Materials: graph paper, small pull-back spring car, masking tape, marker or several coins, metronome app on phone)
- Center of mass activity (Materials needed at hand: graph paper, calculator, 3 different coins)
- Lesson 1 on Fluids (new to P1): Concepts and Labs Related to Static Fluids
Asynchronous assignments:
- Work with your small group to prepare your assigned Free Response question for presentation to the class
- Look over the recently published FR exams from this year’s exam found on AP® Central
- Begin work on course syllabus/timeline (required for credit participants but recommended for everyone)
Tuesday, Day 2
- Roll Call: “One Item I Gained Yesterday That Will Be Helpful in My Classroom”
- Discussion of the process of preparing, reading and scoring AP® exams
- Modeling the lab inquiry process
- Discussion of student lab records
- The PVC Centripetal Force and Rotation Experiments (Materials needed: calculator)
- Lesson 2 on Fluids: Conservation Laws and Activities/Labs Related to Fluids in Motion
Asynchronous assignments:
- Work in small groups on presentations of solutions to this year’s Exam FRQs and Sample Free Response question samples
- Work on your Course Plan and Timeline
Wednesday, Day 3
- Roll Call: An “Instructional Strategy from the CED That I May Use in My Classroom”
- Complete presentations by small groups of FRQ solutions
- “Ask The Expert” College Board Lead: Question and Answer Session
- Examination and discussion of multiple-choice questions and ranking
- Demonstrations on topics by unit in Physics 1
Asynchronous Assignments:
- Work in small groups on published sample multiple choice exams provided
- Work on course syllabus
- Prepare 1-2 minute “Best Practice’ (optional)
- If you have not completed your new audit, go through power point “AP® Audit” and watch the video
- Read the brief document provided (PDF): “Broadening Access to AP® for Underrepresented Populations in Your School”
Thursday, Day 4
- Roll Call: “Best Practice” presentations
- Finish going over multiple-choice examples and ranking of achievement levels
- Discuss testing of laboratory skills on the exam
- Develop a summary of ideas for a laboratory plan
- Small Group Meeting and Discussion: “Broadening Access to AP® for Underrepresented Populations in Your School”
- Q&A Session
- Workshop evaluation