|
Force and Motion-Stop Faking It!: |
Thanks to All for a Great Day!
NSTA wishes to thank Dr. Bill Robertson for delivering an outstanding symposium
on Force and Motion at the national convention in Dallas, Texas, on Friday, April
1, 2005.
The afternoon started with an overview of the agenda, a statement of learning goals,
and a pre-assessment of the participants' knowledge of learning outcomes for the
symposium. From there, Robertson launched into a series of thought-provoking questions
to discern participants' level of understanding of the "Five E" learning cycle.
Robertson supplemented his questions with engaging magic tricks and "wow" demonstrations
to pique educators' interest and participation.
This discussion was followed by hands-on activities and discussions that worked
through Newton's Laws of Motion. Participants made observations and collected data
using marbles and HotWheels tracks, rolled golf and Ping Pong balls across the floor,
and confronted their common conceptions about force and motion. It was a dynamic
group, and Robertson kept the energy level high, having participants create and
test their action/reaction rocket balloon contraptions. The core content of the
symposium was drawn from the NSTA Press Book Stop Faking It! Force and Motion and
the soon-to-be-released Force and Motion NSTA Science Object, both of which Robertson
authored.
Fans of Robertson will enjoy this new addition to NSTA's collection of Science Objects,
which are discrete, online, self-paced learning experiences that facilitate educators'
learning core science content aligned with the standards. Each Science Object contains
engaging simulations, animations, and embedded assessments to gauge and facilitate
understanding. After a hands-on activity, Robertson presented a simulation from
the Force and Motion Science Object and asked educators to make predictions and
explanations as he changed variables or played back animations on the screen.
Robertson explained the seminal concepts behind force and motion thorough a humorous,
inquiry-based approach that builds deep conceptual understanding in a logical and
sequential manner. Robertson's enthusiasm and commitment to facilitating an understanding
of the concepts of position and motion, changes in motion, speed, velocity, acceleration,
and Newton's three laws of motion was contagious, and the feedback surveys were
extremely positive.
All participants received a copy of the NSTA Press book Stop Faking It! Force and
Motion and gained access to an advance preview of the NSTA Force and Motion Science
Object.
For more information contact symposia@nsta.org
Back to Top
|
|
Underwritten in part by NSTA Press
|