Science or Technology

Are they different or the same, technology and science, that is? For some today I challenged you that your "science in the news" review was really more technology than science. This was met with quite a stir, even some angry looks and obvious frustration. Many said that they are essentially one in the same.

So here's a place to debate it. But do some research first so you can back up your opinion. Tell me (and each other) what you think and why. Support your statements with quotes from, or links to, reputable sources.

Where Did The Time Go

I can't believe it's been a week since I added a new post to the site. It's not as if we haven't been doing anything.

Last week I met with other teachers and we evaluated the teaching/learning strategies we are using in class (how we teach) compared to the results we are obtaining (your grades). As a result I am making some changes which you are already beginning to see.

• A stronger focus on maintaining a quality notebook from which you can study. Today you received the table of contents to help you get better organized.
• More worksheets and printed information to insure the information in your notebooks is accurate and beneficial. You'll start getting those in class tomorrow. This will increase the amount of homework you have by requiring you to apply your classwork to the practice homework.
• New reading strategy to help you get more from your science texts. You copied this into the reference section of your notebook yesterday. You also had to apply this immediately to the Nature of Forces reading assignment.
• Self testing. This is a way for you to determine before test day what you know and don't know. This should help you to study more effectively.
  

We'll use these methods along with the hands-on experiments you've been doing to reinforce concepts and demonstrate theories. Of course all of this won't matter much unless you decide to make an extra effort as well.

Speaking of grades --- you were given grade strips today. Make sure to share them with your parents and have them signed. For some of you --- great job! If on the other hand, they aren't pleased with your grades promise them you're going to work as hard as I am at improving your grades. Then do it!

Lastly, remember science in the news is due tomorrow.

Disappointed To Say The Least

I graded your tests last night and returned them to you today. I am really dismayed at the scores. Most of you didn't do your homework over the weekend, which was practice for the test. That leads me to believe that for some reason you did not take this seriously. You've known about the test since last Wednesday but perhaps you didn't study at all, or at the very least, not enough or not effectively. It may be that your notes are not as good as they should be, we'll be checking them more carefully now.

At any rate you now have to do corrections for your test using your notes, your textbook while you were in class, this site and any other resource you may have. Read the questions carefully, pay attention to what it says and asks, take notice of the units given in the question and the answers. You may need to do some conversions. Use your notes and think, think , think.

Test Review

I want everyone to do well on the test tomorrow. That is why I gave you the practice word problems to do over the weekend. Unfortunately many of you didn't do them, but you did have the opportunity to go over all of them in class today. In addition, we completed the Describing Motion worksheet, the one with the graph at the top.

Remember:

• Motion is a change in position relative to a reference point (are you on the bus or standing on the sidewalk?)
  
• Acceleration is a change in velocity (speed or direction) and can be positive or negative
  
• An object traveling in a circle at a constant speed is accelerating because it's direction is always changing
  
• Displacement is a change in position (location)
  
• Speed is distance divided by time
  
• Velocity is speed and direction
  
• Acceleration is final velocity minus initial velocity, divided by time

Height and Speed

Today we did a simple exercise to determine if dropping a ball from increasing heights affects the speed at which it travels.

We dropped a ball from a height of 1 meter and timed how long it took to reach the floor, repeating this measurement 5 times. Then we increased the height by .5 meters and repeated the 5 measurements. We continued to do this to a height of 2.5 meters.

Data was collect in a table and calculations of mean time and speed made. Data was to be graphed and the acceleration determined.

This was easy and hopefully fun. Be ready to discuss your results tomorrow.

Motion, Speed and Acceleration

I wanted to give you a little advance notice that we'll be having a test on Tuesday of next week. We have been learning and working with speed and acceleration over the past couple of weeks. This includes the definitions you were given in class, the "Inclined to Roll" lab, some textbook work and the activity you'll be doing in class tomorrow and Friday. So do a little extra studying. Here's a couple of links to help you out.

• Textbook Review
• Graphing Motion
• Acceleration

I hope this helps.

Oh, by-the-way, some of you have asked about links to the space shuttle sites I've been showing in class. You'll find them on the science news page.

Open House

REMINDER: Thursday evening (tomorrow) is Open House. Please encourage your parents to come; I'm looking forward to meeting them. It begins at 5:30 pm and parents will be following your class schedule moving from period to period.

Science In The News

I think we spent more time discussing science in the news than we did on our topic for the day which was graphing motion. But that's ok, sometimes we learn more that way. This was a busy weekend for science --- the earthquake in the Gulf of Mexico gave us an opportunity to review plate tectonics, which will be on your FCAT. Then there was the launch of the shuttle Atlantis and issues surrounding the health of first responders and rescue workers after 9/11.

Have a great night and see you all tomorrow.

Peer Reviews

Today we did peer reviews. A peer review is an evaluation by an outside group of experts on a project's scientific merit, safety and ethics. In this case your fellow students acted as the "outside group".

Each table showed their data graph and read their conclusions followed by questions and answers. Most questions focused on the accuracy of the data and how the data was presented in their graphs. Students had to demonstrate the ability to think critically, interpret graphs, and compare and contrast.

I am proud of the work you did and the manor in which you approached this assignment.

Keeping Up

Just a quick reminder that it is very important to keep up with your daily assignments, see the home study page. Many students did not complete the assignment from Thursday of last week, even though you had Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday to complete it.

Most of you did a great job in class Wednesday during data collection, but then quite a few students did not complete last night's homework to finish the data table calculations and graph. That leaves you with a lot of work to do tonight in order to report on, and turn in, your lab tomorrow.

On the other hand, some students took the lab reference sheet and completed a final copy of the entire lab write-up, including the conclusions and analysis, and had it when they walked into class today. One group of students conducted the experiment at home and had a typed write-up done on Wednesday.

A's and B's come from going beyond what is required, C's by doing what is required and D's and F's when you're not completing your assignments each day. Remember late work is not accepted. (If you were absent you have the number of days absent plus one to make up the work) Do your best and be ready tomorrow!

SPEED

It sure looked like you were having fun today --- are you sure this was science class?

Click the photo to visit the gallery and check out everyone playing with their matchbox cars. Of course there was a purpose to this playing and that was to learn about speed and to gain more experience at designing and conducting your own labs.

Tonight you should be finishing your data table and graphing the mean values. Tomorrow we'll work on your conclusions and analysis, with presentations to be done in class on Friday.

Ready To Roll

Another busy day in science.

First you got your tests back from Friday --- results were not as good as I had hoped, so we spent additional time going over experimental design. Remember the purpose of this is for you to plan your experiment in enough detail that someone else could take your plan and conduct your experiment, in the same way you would, and get the same results.

To do good science, others must be able to duplicate our experiments. This is the only way new theories are "proven". On one of your future experiments you'll actually do that, trade experimental designs with another table or class and see if they can duplicate your experiment.

Last you spent a little time testing your experimental design so tomorrow you'll be "ready to roll". There will be no bell work, instead start the data collection portion of your lab right away.

P.S. PARENTS --- Grade slips were sent home with students today. Please be sure to review and sign them. Students, return them by Friday of this week.