Quote:
Originally Posted by MooreteP
Brian,
I checked out the site. I requested a hard copy of the book and any other materials that they are willing to share for free(?).
We have a two year process for new "texts". I am still using Holt 2002. Probably time for a revision.
The changes that we have seen in education with the advent of the internet are too great to ignore. (I started in 1991).
I have gone from Apple IIe's,through LabPro and Vernier (which I believe obscured more than they revealed), to now actively using smartphones in the curriculum to enhance the ways that our great variety of students can access the knowledge, skills, and abilities to understand physics and other subjects.
I think we have finally crossed a threshold and the promise of CPU's improving education may be here.
Still, it's a lot of effort to remember all of those passwords and virtually organize the material into a cogent product.
I still like to maintain and utilize the old standby's of meter sticks, timers, balances, batteries, wires and incandescent light bulbs for when the EMP comes. 
I also prefer hand written lab reports. So much character in penmanship.
But now we are on ChromeBooks with Google Docs. 
Nonetheless, I look forward to reviewing these materials and preparing my submittal for a curriculum "change". I am wondering if the MIT Media Lab had much involvement.
I am skeptical about the FIRST endorsement. Who, what, when, why?
The TEDx talk by Woodie is great:
http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/Liber...odie%20flowers |
I too am a bit of an "old school" teacher when it comes to Labs. I prefer to keep my PASCO carts and Smart Timers for another decade rather than getting the ErgoBots from this package. But I'm just talking about the text itself.
And I will rave on as the year just started, and I'm finding more and more good things about the text. It can be purchase with or without the hardbound book. Getting the virtual textbook gives it to each student as BOTH the installable full-text from the DVD, as well as the on-line access which can be put on any mobile device as well.
Each paragraph can be spoken if you click the speaker icon. I told my students the bad news: now they can do their Physics homework on the bus to the [whatever] practice, or game.
I'm digging the teacher's edition which includes an "infinite" test question bank. Technically infinite I guess, because the numerical problems have limitless variability, but even the qualitative questions are varied when asking the "same" question.
I'm using this text for my AP classes this year, but I'm going to spread them to the Honors classes next year if I can.
If anyone wants a human to talk to at Ergopedia, ask for Eleanor Ahlborn:
eleanor@ergopedia.com
Tell her Brian from Groton said "hi"