CSAAPT Fall 2021 Virtual Meeting

Overview:

The Chesapeake Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers (CSAAPT, covering Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and the DC area) will host its Fall 2021 Meeting fully virtually via Zoom on Saturday, October 23, 2021.

You do not have to be an AAPT member to attend. There is no registration fee, and we welcome participation of all physics/science teachers and students in the region as well as anyone interested in physics education, or physics in general.

The semiannual CSAAPT meetings are a great forum to exchange ideas on novel teaching techniques and economical physics demonstrations, and to meet a fascinating cohort of physics education enthusiasts: Our Spring 2021 Virtual Meeting, for which 118 people were registered, was attended by 45 instructors from 4-year colleges, 22 instructors from 2-year colleges, 34 high school and middle school teachers, undergraduate and graduate students, and physics fans. A total of 14 talks were presented. 
 

Registration:

To register, please click on Registration in the menu on the left.
To submit talk abstracts/demo descriptions, register first and then click on Call for Abstracts.

High school/middle school teachers: If you need a Certificate of Attendance for CEU purposes, please register your full name exactly as it should appear on the Certificate. 
 

Deadlines:

The deadline for talk abstract/demo description submission is the midnight of Friday, October 15, 2021. 

Registration is accepted until the midnight of Friday, October 22, 2021.
 

Zoom Link:

The Zoom link and password for the Meeting will be emailed to your registered email address a few days prior, and also on the morning of the Meeting.

Program:

We are planning a one-day Meeting starting from 9:00AM continuing until 4:00PM, with a 1-hour lunch break.  This will be followed by a business meeting of the CSAAPT (for CSAAPT members).

The program will include:

• Featured talk:
   
  • Dr. Karen Jo Matsler (U. of Texas, Arlington)
    
    Is Quantum in HS Crazy?
    
    Abstract: If someone were to tell you that technology is not important, you would think they were crazy, especially after all the technology that was used during COVID. The National Quantum Initiative was signed into law in 2019 with the intent of increasing awareness at the K-12 level as to the importance of quantum in technology, national security, and future jobs. The Quantum for All project is focusing on this initiative using an NSF grant to help get quantum information science in the HS curriculum. This talk will give an overview of the project and how the challenges are being addressed.

     

• Contributed talks:
   
  • Talks should be 15 minutes long (12-minute talk + 3-minute Q&A)
     

  • Please tell us about your ideas, techniques, and experiences on:
    
    ∗ Adjusting for Covid in the Classroom
    ∗ Advising/Judging Science Fair projects
    ∗ Assessment Practices
    ∗ Combating Cheating
    ∗ Diversity in STEM
    * Improving Accessibility in the Classroom
    ∗ New Physics Pedagogies
    ∗ School Policies and Implementations
    ∗ Simplifying Grading
    ∗ Virtual Learning
    ∗ etc.
     

  • If you would like to contribute a talk, please register first and then click on Call for Abstracts in the menu on the left to submit the title and abstract of your talk.
     

  • Talks by high school/middle school teachers are particularly welcome!
     

• 30-minute Share-a-thon of your favorite Demos (Live!)
   
  • Each presenter will have 1-minute to showcase their favorite physics demo in front of their Zoom camera. We hope to go through 30 demos in 30 minutes.
     
  • Ideas for simple physics demos using ubiquitous household items would be most appreciated
     
  • If you would like to participate, please register first and then click on Call for Abstracts in the menu on the left to submit the title and abstract (brief description) of your demo. 
     
  • To present both a 15-minute talk and a 1-minute demo, please submit them as separate contributions to the Call for Abstracts
     
• Zoom breakout sessions to socialize with your peers
  • Separate Zoom breakout rooms will be set up for:
    • High school and middle school instructors
    • 2-year college instructors
    • 4-year college instructors
    • Undergraduate and graduate students 
    • Open for all!

Questions:

If you have any questions about this meeting, please contact Tatsu Takeuchi (takeuchi@vt.edu).

Organizational Committee:

Jason Sterlace (James Madison U., CSAAPT President & Chair)
Tatsu Takeuchi (Virginia Tech, CSAAPT Vice President)
James Freericks (Georgetown U.)
Muge Karagoz (U. of Maryland)
Elena Kuchina (Thomas Nelson CC)
Samantha Spytek (Rock Ridge High School)
Brett Taylor (Radford U.)
Deonna Woolard (Randolph-Macon College)
David Wright (Tidewater CC)