A Fresh Approach to Teaching Physics Teacher, David Flores Favors a Hands-On Classroom
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march the 2012 precedent VOLUME V ISSUE VI PERRY HIGH SCHOOL || PRIDE · PROGRESS · PURPOSE || GILBERT, AZ Inside A fresh approach to teaching Physics teacher, David Flores favors a hands-on classroom By Rachel Lattin to better understand various categories of physics, no the precedent concepts. matter their level. In his Seeing and hearing Even checking homework study, he states that students information does not always is an active experience. Instead - whether a beginning level An exhilarating mean learning it. Physics of looking at an answer key, high school student or teacher David Flores believes students work problems advanced level college student season for Pumas that the best way for his out on the white board and - repel any information that The basketball team wins students to learn is through explain them to the class. is goes against what they think a strong victory against an anti-lecture method. enables them to see exactly they already know. where they made a mistake Hestenes’ modeling Basha High, only to be He teaches by assigning labs, explaining models and to have more confi dence program explains what the defeated in the quarter and showing examples. on all types of problems. “ misconceptions are and fi nals and end the season. “I think students learn better It displays more of what’s describes how they should be going on,” junior Stephanie understood. To replace false The players and coaches when they actually do things,” he said. Brosious says. “You can see knowledge, teachers must refl ect on the season. Flores believes that the what’s actually happening.” thoroughly clarify the accurate Page 11 anti-lecture - more hands-on - Flores got this concept information. Students retain style of teaching improves test from a teaching method study more information through conducted by Arizona State this method than they would Advanced Placement and grades, as well as the students’ overall understanding of University physics professor in a normal, lecture-style Dual Enrollment classes physics. His classes complete David Hestenes. Hestenes class. lead some astray in terms approximately one lab a week researched whether anti- “It allows students to create lecture classes give students meaning for themselves,” of policies and tests. We and note-taking is very rare. In notebooks, students more knowledge on the Flores said. detail the differences to record their predictions of subject. help you make an what the outcome of a lab will He developed a high school physics modeling program in informed decision. be, the results and any new comprehension of the subject. 1990 - it focuses on hands-on photo by Jensen Penrod Page 7 ese hands-on activities learning instead of lecturing. Physics teacher David Flores make his class enjoyable for Hestenes has found that helps a student coil string all students and help them many people have a false to a pencil for that day’s lab As Spring Break ap- understanding of the key assignment on Feb. 16. proaches, many bands will be playing concerts around the Valley. From Arizona with love: Page 8 Students depart to Europe for spring break Cell phones in class have By Haley Witt It is slightly surprising the precedent been debated since their how many more students are rise to popularity. Could Most students never get the traveling considering the fact chance to travel overseas while that the trip off ered by EF they be a positive thing? they are in school. However, Tours is not supposed to have The staff debates the pros thanks to the Education anything to do with PHS. and cons. First foundation, students “ e school district isn’t can travel to countries such involved and if we allowed Page 5 as Scotland or Australia for our building or resources to a discounted price and see be used then we could be On Saturday, March 2nd, the places they used to only held responsible if anything the Cheer team took sec- dream about. negative happened,” is March, some Principal Dan Serrano ond place at a statewide Perry students have the says. “ at’s typical in most cheer and pom champi- opportunity to travel to school districts.” onship at the Veteran’s Germany, Switzerland, Italy, As for how that is aff ecting and – as an extension of the the students and teachers Memorial Coliseum. full tour – France. ey will chaperoning on the trip, it is Page 3 be sightseeing throughout the not a big deal. countries, visiting places such “I think it’s kind of silly, World/Nation: as Munich and seeing a castle but I don’t mind,” Romer is week, Israeli Prime called Neuschwanstein, and photo courtesy of Haley Witt says. Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will also travel from Venice Students from the 2011 Europe trip pose near Stirling Castle in Scotland. (From left) Greer For English teacher Kristen will be arriving to Washington to Verona and even take a Miller, Courtney Sabo, Jordan Miller, Haley Witt, Yuqing Jiang, Daniela Diaz, Morgan Palmanteer, Mackenzie, not being able to to meet with President Barack guided tour of the city of Taylor Wagner, Benito Arellanes, Patrick Wilson, Matt Brezinski, Randi Calvin, Connor New- communicate on campus has Obama and try to stitch Lucerne in Switzerland. In comer, and Alex Gasca. not been a problem for her up any issues they had. e addition, they are scheduled from home, they will have the another country in general is traveling throughout the two either, even though she’s the U.S. and Israel are trying to to visit a concentration camp chance to visit France and see exciting,” senior Eunice Beck countries, visiting castles such one who is coordinating the get along so they can fi gure called Dachau. cities like Paris and Versailles says. as Edinburgh and Stirling whole tour. out what to do about the “I’m just so excited to get and even visit the famous is year there are about and walking throughout the Either way, the 14 day Iranian threat against Israel. out and explore the world,” Louvre museum. ey may 70 students going on the trip, city of Dublin. trip is a great experience for According to MSNBC news, senior Brooke Romer says. even opt to take a day and which is far more than the 30 In fact, compared to this students before they head military analysts and U.S. For certain students that visit Disneyland Paris. or so that traveled to Scotland year, last year’s trip was so off to college and don’t have offi cials grew concern that, pay extra money and want to “I’m mostly excited about and Ireland in March of small that they had to travel much free time to see the “Israel will launch a multi- spend a couple more days away Euro Disney, but going to 2011. Students from last with a number of students places they always wanted to phase air and missile attack year spent about seven days from Alaska. see. that could trigger waves of retaliatory missile strikes from Tehran.” With this in mind, National Engineering Month brings experts to classrooms Netanyahu will be giving a Intel called, off ering to send the upcoming Science, growth has far exceeded our students a more personalized speech to the American Israel By Raphael Shafeev over fi ve representatives into and sophisticated path the precedent Technology, Engineering and expectations,” Greene states. Public Aff airs Committee our own classrooms to inspire Math (STEM) program that With over 70 applications through high school and into (AIPAC) to warn them about e National Engineer students into engineering has been the personal project submitted for next year’s successful futures. the threat and to declare what Month was held during careers. of Assistant freshmen, STEM promises to Israel needs Obama to do. past month of February, e engineers Principal help launch students into the STEM Explained: announced by the builders visited both e STEM program’s Joe Greene. fi elds of their mathematical Table of Contents and designers themselves in A d v a n c e d growth has far exceeded our S T E M ’ s and scientifi c dreams. -Advanced science classes order to celebrate creativity Placement (AP) “expectations.” curriculum Administration is for students interested in News || 1-3 in creation through out the and Honors ~Joe Greene is based on currently working to partner ages. c l a s s r o o m s advanced with companies such as Intel math and engineering Opinions || 4-5 e Chandler school around the l e a r n i n g and Arizona State University’s -Beginning in the 2012- Features || 6-7 district celebrated this month school, setting in fi elds Poly-Technic campus, already A & E || 8-9 in their own way, when up presentations and Q and A of a left-brained nature, and having gained the Salt River 2013 school year Sports || 10-12 the well-known computer sessions for the benefi t of the seems to be gaining popularity Project (SRP) on the team. company, Intel, contacted aspiring student scientists. within the school. e STEM program -Pioneered by Perry High Perry High School. All this is part of “ e STEM program’s promises future generations of 2 news || the precedent || march 2012 Changes in store for ACT exams College skills. By Alli Klassin The University the precedent of California was Official the first school to As of last month, the well- petition to have known ACT test will be adding new the ACT test Resigns concepts that will advance the rigor altered. Cal has of the exam. specialized classes The test, which is created by for students Kaplan - and tutoring and education that are not up Over company - is in need of some to prior with improvements, according to Jennifer requirements.