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Author Topic: Tell us, what do you do for a living?  (Read 7887 times)

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Xen

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Re: Tell us, what do you do for a living?
« Reply #150 on: September 24, 2015, 03:51:01 AM »

All those creds and yet you got the math wrong
But seriously, great work there. I run a non-profit children's education centre on the weekends. Being a teacher is one of the most thankless jobs out there. I am grateful for all my staff who volunteer their time to help wrangle the 180 or so kids we get every year.
I TOTALLY meant 300% increase. Totally.
I "only" teach 180-ish of the ones listed. I teach 4 classes of AP Physics 1 (~140) and 1 class each of AP Physics 2 and AP Physics C. The school had to get another teacher to take on 2 classes of AP Physics 1. Logistics are pretty crazy.
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cspirou

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Re: Tell us, what do you do for a living?
« Reply #151 on: September 24, 2015, 06:18:30 AM »



  • Ph.D. in molecular biology
  • Worked my way to Big Pharma doing diagnostics
  • Hated, hated, hated, hated the environment, the ethos, the management.
  • Became a HS Science teacher teaching physics to normal students (Texas mandates all students must take physics)
  • No teacher wiling to teach AP Physics C, so I did even though no background. Relearning basic calculus while teaching E&M was ... interesting
  • Embracing the AP ethos of open and welcoming classroom to all students willing to learn.
  • Growing the AP Physics program: AP Physics C has tripled enrollment from 6 to 24 students in 3 years (Awesome kids, top of their class), AP Physics 2 went from 1 student to 26 in 3 years (Awesome kids, not top of their class), AP Physics 1 went from 120 to 200 in 1 year (wide range, from top of their class to first timers in an honor/AP class).
  • Open tutorial hours from 6:30 am to first bell and then last bell to 4:45 pm. Work on stuff until about 6:30 before leaving school.


 I went to high school in Texas in the 90s and physics wasn't required. When did they start requiring physics for everyone?
« Last Edit: September 24, 2015, 06:44:33 AM by cspirou »
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Xen

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Re: Tell us, what do you do for a living?
« Reply #152 on: September 24, 2015, 10:10:40 AM »

I went to high school in Texas in the 90s and physics wasn't required. When did they start requiring physics for everyone?
2010. Texas decided to raise standards so they implemented "4x4": 4 years of math, science, English, and social studies (core classes). Physics became required and not just "Integrated Physics and Chemistry". If you opt-out of taking physics, you graduated on a minimum graduation plan, making you ineligible to directly attend a 4-year institution. You have to attend community or junior college first, then transfer to a 4-year institution.
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cspirou

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Re: Tell us, what do you do for a living?
« Reply #153 on: September 24, 2015, 10:46:13 AM »

2010. Texas decided to raise standards so they implemented "4x4": 4 years of math, science, English, and social studies (core classes). Physics became required and not just "Integrated Physics and Chemistry". If you opt-out of taking physics, you graduated on a minimum graduation plan, making you ineligible to directly attend a 4-year institution. You have to attend community or junior college first, then transfer to a 4-year institution.

Ah, so it's required for the recommended plan but not a graduation requirement. Sounds like your school has a program I really would have wanted to take since my school didn't even have AP physics.
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Armaegis

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Re: Tell us, what do you do for a living?
« Reply #154 on: September 24, 2015, 03:45:40 PM »

What places Physics above Chemistry, Biology, Programming, etc?
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cspirou

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Re: Tell us, what do you do for a living?
« Reply #155 on: September 24, 2015, 04:43:48 PM »

What places Physics above Chemistry, Biology, Programming, etc?

What do you mean? In terms of which is smarter/better/respectable or in terms of which is more fundamental?

As a physicist I don't consider physics as superior to any other subject, especially after meeting some biologists that are waaaay smarter then the particle physicists I know. In terms of the latter I think there is no argument that physics is the basis for explaining just about all natural phenomena, which happens to encompass all the other topics.
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Priidik

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Re: Tell us, what do you do for a living?
« Reply #156 on: September 24, 2015, 05:38:47 PM »

I'm a metrologist at local national center of measurements and standardisation (in Estonia not US NIST  :-DD) calibrating electronic test equipment.
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Xen

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Re: Tell us, what do you do for a living?
« Reply #157 on: September 25, 2015, 12:41:44 AM »

What places Physics above Chemistry, Biology, Programming, etc?
Many countries do teach physics as the first science in secondary education. Some countries actually teach physics. Others are more like physical science, which is an on-level 8th grade class here in Texas. Many students are not mathematically ready to take physics as freshman, which is why physics is on-level for 11th grade in my school district. Is the issue on the education side or on the mental development side? Many people have opinions. I honestly think both. Abstract thinking in terms of variables and unknowns appears to be very hard for many students.
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Deep Funk

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Re: Tell us, what do you do for a living?
« Reply #158 on: September 25, 2015, 09:50:03 AM »

Many countries do teach physics as the first science in secondary education. Some countries actually teach physics. Others are more like physical science, which is an on-level 8th grade class here in Texas. Many students are not mathematically ready to take physics as freshman, which is why physics is on-level for 11th grade in my school district. Is the issue on the education side or on the mental development side? Many people have opinions. I honestly think both. Abstract thinking in terms of variables and unknowns appears to be very hard for many students.

I was one of those students. I had to relearn everything from zero at Khan Academy for the explanations worked for me. The exercises cleared up my issues. Do know I am more language oriented so it required a serious effort. For three months I devoted my spare time to basic maths, statistics and everything related to literally reprogram my mind. I would do it again.

One issue I had was the literature. This can vary so much in jargon and presentation that it can confuse you out of learning. I was a Dutch HBO-student and the differences between English books and American books for advanced subjects are sometimes absurd from maths, statistics, research, and financial accounting to economics.
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knerian

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Re: Tell us, what do you do for a living?
« Reply #159 on: September 25, 2015, 05:04:29 PM »

Many countries do teach physics as the first science in secondary education. Some countries actually teach physics. Others are more like physical science, which is an on-level 8th grade class here in Texas. Many students are not mathematically ready to take physics as freshman, which is why physics is on-level for 11th grade in my school district. Is the issue on the education side or on the mental development side? Many people have opinions. I honestly think both. Abstract thinking in terms of variables and unknowns appears to be very hard for many students.

In the US high school physics usually means mechanics starting with Newton's laws, which requires an absolute grasp of algebra and eventually some calculus, so saying that other countries start with physics as freshman (13-14 years old) is extremely advanced compared to US standards.  IS that what you mean?

Caveat:  the above description was my experience many years ago in high school.

edit:  just saw that you're the physics teacher.    I see the AP curriculum has changed, just curious what countries teach their freshman physics which I assume require a grasp of algebra and calculus?
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